Oatmeal Fudge Bars
Feb 06, 2019, Updated Jun 06, 2023
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Oatmeal fudge bars are a delicious combination of an oatmeal cookie with a fudgy, chocolate center. These are always a hit with family and friends.
Oatmeal fudge bars are chewy, fudgy cookie goodness. I have a serious sweet tooth especially anything that involves chocolate like chocolate cherry cake, chocolate crispy treats, or chocolate chip bundt cake.
Ingredients needed
- Oatmeal – Old fashioned oatmeal
- Flour – All purpose flour
- Brown sugar – Light brown sugar
- Chocolate chips – Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Butter – Unsalted butter slightly softened.
- Eggs – 2 large eggs
- Baking soda – This helps the cookie bars to rise.
- Vanilla extract – Adds a hint of warm sweetness.
- Salt – Balances out the sweetness.
- Sweetened condensed milk – This is used for the creamy fudge center
How to make oatmeal fudge bars
- Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9 x 13 brownie pan by either spraying with non-stick cooking spray or line with parchment paper and then lightly spray with cooking spray.
- Cookie dough: Beat brown sugar and softened butter in a mixing bowl.
- Mix in the eggs and vanilla extract.
- Mix in the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Fold in oatmeal into the cookie batter.
- Spread 2/3 of the batter in the prepared brownie pan.
- Fudge center: Place the chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, butter, vanilla extract, and salt in a saucepan.
- Stir and melt over medium heat being careful not to burn.
- Spread the fudge mixture over the batter in the pan and then top with the remaining oatmeal cookie dough mixture.
- Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool before cutting and serving.
Recipe tips
- You can use quick or old fashioned oats for these bars but be sure not to use instant oatmeal. The instant oatmeal is too fine and doesn’t work well for baking.
- Make it easy to cut the bars by lining the baking pan with parchment paper.
- Be sure not to over mix the cookie dough.
How to store leftover oatmeal fudge bars
Store: Make sure to let the oatmeal bars completely cool before storing in an airtight container. They can sit out at room temperature for up to 4-5 days.
Freeze: These bars can be frozen for up to 3 months. Store them in a freezer safe bag or container. Thaw at room temperature.
More delicious desserts
- Butterscotch Brownies
- Amaretto Brownies
- German Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookies
***If you made this recipe, feel free to leave a comment and star rating below.
Oatmeal Fudge Bars
Ingredients
Oatmeal Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
Fudge Center
- 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 14 ounces can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9×13 nonstick brownie pan. (I lined my pan with parchment paper to make it easier to lift the bars out and cut).
- In a mixing bowl, combine butter and brown sugar until creamed. Mix in eggs and vanilla.
- Add in flour, baking soda and salt and mix until combined.
- Stir in oats.
- Spread 2/3 of cookie mixture into the pan.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine fudge ingredients until melted.
- Spread fudge over cookie mixture in the pan.
- Drop the remaining cookie mixture by spoonfuls on top of the fudge layer.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until top is brown.
- Cool completely before cutting.
Notes
- You can use quick or old fashioned oats for these bars but don’t use instant oatmeal. The instant oatmeal is too fine and doesn’t work well for baking.
- Line baking dish with either parchment paper or foil to make it easy to remove the bars and cut once they have cooled.
- Be sure to not over mix the cookie dough.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can this be made in a 9×13 glass baking dish? If so, does it change the baking time?
Yes it can be. The baking times should still be the same. Thanks!
Seriously one of the best desserts I have ever made! Everyone at our party LOVED them!
Kids love this – perfect combo of fudge and oatmeal! We switched up and put in half steel cut oats and rolled oats for an added crunch
these look and sound freakin awesome. going to make tonight
The first item in your Recipe is “Cookie”, what is this. I live in Ireland, in US you sometimes use different names for items we may have under another name.
Can you please tell me, sorry about that.
Hi Ursula,
Cookie just means the dough part of the oatmeal fudge bars. There is a dough layer, fudge layer and then topped with dough layer. Hope that helps.
By the way This recipe looks really good! ❤️
Hi, do I have to add the sweetened milk? Can I add regular milk instead? Thanks
Unfortunately it needs to be the sweetened condensed milk. It is thicker and adds some sweetness.
The best part about healthy dessert recipes, like these whole wheat oatmeal fudge bars, is that they still taste decadent and comforting, and my kids don t know the difference.
Lol with over 500 calories o per serving I don’t know if I’d call these “healthy “ good yes !!!!this would be a Slpurge 😂😂😂
These look delicious!
Thank you! Hope you enjoy them 🙂