Oatmeal Cookie Magic Bars

Oatmeal cookie magic bars have an oatmeal cookie base and are topped with layers of chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, salty peanuts, and pretzels. It’s drizzled with sweetened condensed milk, which acts like a glue while also giving the bars that incredible gooey texture. 

Happy first recipe of 2024! I can't wait for all of the fun recipes I'll be sharing here this year. First up, these delicious Oatmeal Cookie Magic Bars!

January baking for me consists of easy and effortless recipes. I think it's because I was baking so much in December, that January I just want simple treats!

They come together in one pan, making the clean up extremely minimal and the dessert under 30 minutes.

For more easy baking, try Best-Ever 5 Ingredient Fudgy Brownies, Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Chocolate Peanut Butter Stuffed Cookie Bars.

Jump to:

• Why this recipe works
• Ingredients Notes
• Substitution Ideas
• Step by step instructions
• Expert Baking Tips
• FAQ
• Storing & Freezing
• Check out these recipes
• Oatmeal Cookie Magic Bars

Why this recipe works

Texture – Each ingredient brings its own amazing texture and flavour.

Minimal clean up – There’s only one bowl required to make the oat base. The rest is poured straight into the baking pan!

Oatmeal cookie base – Instead of a graham cracker base, these bars use a hearty oatmeal base made up of butter and quick oats.

Sweetened condensed milk – Holds the bars together and creates a gooey texture and irresistible sweetness.

Ingredients Notes

Butter – I used unsalted. This will be melted.

Oats - Quick oats are used for the base of these bars. Make sure to use quick oats and not any other kind.

Chocolate chips – I used semi-sweet. Dark works too. I think milk would be too sweet.

White chocolate chips – A known classic in seven layer bars.

Peanuts – I used salty peanuts for that sweet and salty balance.

Pretzels - You can use any shape pretzels, I used pretzel sticks.

Sweetened condensed milk – The secret glue that holds these bars together. Make sure you use sweetened condensed milk and not evaporated milk.

Substitution Ideas

One of my favourite parts about this recipe is how much you can customize it just for you! If you’re allergic or don’t like the ingredients I used, you may omit it completely or substitute it. Here are a few ideas:

Oat base – Use graham cracker crumbs instead! Check out my Seven Layer Magic Bars for this recipe.

Coconut - Substitute for a more classic seven layer bar.

Oreos - Adds a cookie and cream flavour.

Nuts – Pecans, walnuts, macadamia, or almonds would be delicious.

Chocolate chips – Milk, white, or dark all work! Just be aware of the sweetness.

Step by step instructions

Here is how to make and bake these Oatmeal Cookie Magic Bars. You will need an 8×8 pan. Everything comes together in one bowl.

Step 1 – Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper or foil. If foil, then also grease the bottom and sides. Set aside.

Step 2 – Make the base: In a large bowl, mix melted butter and quick oats. Mix until the crumbs are completely coated in the butter. Press the base firmly into the bottom of the 8×8 pan.

Step 3 – Drizzle condensed milk. Drizzle the condensed milk on top of the oat base. This will help act as a glue to stick it together.

Step 4 - Layer the bars: Begin to add each ingredient into the pan, one at a time. The order I went in was chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, peanuts, and pretzels.

Step 5 – Bake for 25-27 minutes or until it’s golden brown. Remove from the oven.

Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing. This is essential and if the bars are still warm, they won’t slice well!

Expert Baking Tips

Here are a few baking tips from my kitchen to yours

• Make sure you use sweetened condensed milk and not evaporated milk!
• Allow the bars to completely cool before slicing into them. As they cool, they will set. If you slice them too early it’ll be a gooey mess!
• To speed up the cooling process, place into the refrigerator.
• Use good quality chocolate chips. I always use Chipits semi-sweet. The cheap kind won’t hold as well in these bars.

FAQ

What are each of the layers in a 7 layer bar?

The layers are butter, oats, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, pretzels, peanuts, and sweetened condensed milk. 

Why did my bars fall apart?

There are a few reasons this could've happened. The most common reason for this is not allowing it to completely cool after baking. This is crucial for these bars. Also, not measuring correctly, adding in to many ingredients in, or not pressing the base down well.

Storing & Freezing

Oatmeal Cookie Magic Bars are best served at room temperature. Keep in an airtight container on your counter for up to 3 days. 

You can store these bars in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

If you’d like to freeze the bars, place parchment paper in between each bar and place in a plastic bag or sealed container. Freeze for up to 3 months and thaw 2 hours prior on the counter to serve.

Check out these recipes

• 
  Chewy Coconut Bars
• 
  Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
• 
  Oatmeal Coconut Chocolate Chip Bars
• 
  Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

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