Gooey chocolate is sandwiched between two layers of oatmeal cookies in these decadent Oatmeal Fudge Bars. They are rich and delicious, and perfect for pot lucks or dessert time.
For more Oatmeal desserts, try these Oatmeal Raisin Bars or Oatmeal Scotchies.
I don’t know what has come over me. Normally, if I’m craving dessert, I’ll choose something fruity, or caramel, or vanilla. While I like chocolate, for some reason, it’s not usually my first choice.
But lately, I can’t get enough chocolate. Everything from No Bake Cookies to Homemade Brownies to Double Malt Brownies.
I was craving cookies, and chocolate, and remembered these Oatmeal Fudge Bars.
A layer of oatmeal cookie bar, topped by a gooey, creamy chocolate center, then layered with another oatmeal cookie bar. These things are amazing. And I love that the filling stays soft – it never hardens up like a I thought it would have. So these are creamy and soft and rich no matter when you eat them!
These bars are great to give away or take to a potluck as well. That is – if you don’t eat them all first!!
Ingredients
- Brown Sugar: The base of the cookies is all brown sugar. Use light brown sugar, and it is packed when measuring.
- Butter: I typically use unsalted butter so I can control the salt. You can use salted butter and then just cut back on the salt a tiny bit.
- Eggs: I use large eggs. For best results, let them come to room temperature before adding them.
- Vanilla: I like to use a pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
- Oats: I have always made these with quick cooking oats. You could use regular old fashioned oats, but it will change the texture a bit.
- Flour: I just use all-purpose flour.
- Baking Soda: This is for lift and for texture.
- Salt: The salt goes in both the cookie layers and the fudge layer. I prefer sea salt over table salt.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: Make sure you are using sweetened condensed milk, not evaporated milk.
- Chocolate Chips: You can always use chopped chocolate here instead, but chocolate chips are easy and less expensive than using chocolate bars.
How to Make Oatmeal Fudge Bars
STEP 1: Start with the wet ingredients. Beat together the sugar and butter until it is light and fluffy. Then mix in the eggs, followed by the vanilla.
STEP 2: In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. This is the oats, flour, baking soda, and salt.
STEP 3: Add those dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Then mix until everything is combined.
STEP 4: Take about 2/3 of the mixture and press it into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish that has been lined with parchment paper or sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
STEP 5: Make the fudge layer. In a saucepan, combine the sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, and butter. Let these all melt together until smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and the salt. Spread this evenly over your bottom cookie layer.
STEP 6: Take the remaining oatmeal mixture and drop it by spoonfuls on top of the fudge layer. I find that this is easiest to do by hand, dropping evenly over the top. Bake the bars until golden brown. Let them cool before slicing.
Tips and Tricks
When making your bottom layer, you don’t have to be exact in adding 2/3 of the dough. I always just eyeball it. This means that sometimes the top is thicker and sometimes not as much, but it’s easy and works either way!
These bars cut much easier when they are fully cooled.
I store these at room temperature in a covered container. They will last several days this way.
More Chocolate Desserts
Banana Brownies
Oreo Brownies
Caramel Brownies
Chocolate Mousse
Chocolate Pound Cake
Chocolate Cream Pie
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Oatmeal Fudge Bars
Ingredients
Cookie Layers:
- 2 cups packed brown sugar
- 1 cup butter softened
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups quick cooking oats
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Fudge Layer:
- 1 (14-oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, (or a large bowl if making by hand), combine the brown sugar and butter and beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and beat until combined. Mix in the vanilla.2 cups packed brown sugar, 1 cup butter, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- In a bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, baking soda, and salt.3 cups quick cooking oats, 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
- Take about 2/3 of the oat mixture and press into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- In a saucepan, combine the sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, and butter. Place over medium-low heat and cook, stirring often, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and salt.1 (14-oz) can sweetened condensed milk, 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Spread the chocolate mixture over the oat mixture in the pan, spreading as evenly as possible.
- Take the remaining oat mixture and drop it by teaspoonfuls over the top of the chocolate mixture.
- Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 25 minutes.
- Cool completely before cutting into bars.
Carmen Smith says
This is the best oatmeal fudge bar recipe I’ve tried. I won’t use any other kind. The bars always turn out magnificently!
Vickie L Daignault says
can you use old fashion oats in place of quick oats
Deborah says
I haven’t tried substituting, so I can’t say for sure, but my guess is that they would work.
Yolanda says
I made these bars today and they are simply delicious!! I froze a little over half the batch so we will see how they taste once they are thawed in a week or so! I will let you know.
Yolanda says
Can these bars be frozen?
Deborah says
I haven’t tried freezing them, so I’m not sure, but I would guess that they would freeze fine.
E Carnes says
Is there anything that can be subbed for sweetened condensed milk?
Deborah says
Are you wanting to sub it because you can’t find it or because you don’t like it? If you can’t find it, I know you can make it yourself, although I haven’t tried any of the recipes online myself. I’m not sure if there is a substitute if you just don’t like it. I can’t think of a product that is comparable to just sub in.