In just over 2 weeks, I have a family reunion that I am going to. Every year, my mom’s side of the family gets together for about 24 hours of family fun. My mom and her siblings each take turns taking the reigns and planning everything, and this year, my mom is in charge.
So there has been a lot of reunion talk these past few months.
We are teaming up with one other family for one of the meals, and being the planner that my mom is, she wanted to do a test run of the meal. So we all gathered on Sunday for taco salads and dessert.
And not that taco salad isn’t exciting, but let’s skip straight to the dessert, shall we? 🙂
Each of us kids is planning on bringing a dessert. My mind immediately went to brownies/bars – simply because they are easy to make ahead and to transport. And my mom has a cookbook that I’ve been addicted to flipping through lately, so I went on the search for a dessert to try out.
These Oatmeal Raisin Bars immediately spoke to me. As a lover of the oatmeal raisin cookie, I knew I wanted to give this bar a try.
If you are a fan of oatmeal raisin cookies, these bars are for you. A crumbly crust is topped with a creamy filling that is stuffed with raisins. Then more crumb goes on top and everything is baked together. The bars are messy – all that crumb mixture! – but I would honestly categorize them as in the top at least 5 of my favorite bar recipes right now. Really. I really, really liked them. They are a little bit more involved than your typical bar recipe, but they are totally worth it.
Oatmeal raisin lovers – this one needs to go to the top of your “to try” list!
More Oatmeal Recipes:
Oatmeal Raisin Muffins
Oatmeal Cake
Oatmeal Cookies
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Oatmeal Raisin Bars
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 30 servings 1x
Description
Recipe for bars with an oatmeal crumb and a creamy raisin center.
Ingredients
Filling
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 cups sour cream
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 cups raisins
Bars
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 3/4 cups quick cooking oats
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup cold butter, cut into cubes
Instructions
Make the filling:
- In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon. Stir in the sour cream and cook over medium-high heat until it starts to bubble, stirring often. When it starts to boil, reduce the heat and cook 2 more minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk a small amount into the eggs. Stir the egg mixture back into the saucepan and return to the heat. Bring to a boil, then cook an additional 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and gently stir in the raisins. Let sit without stirring until it comes to room temperature.
Make the crumb:
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, sugar, baking soda and salt. Use a pastry cutter to cut in the butter until it resembles coarse crumbs.
To assemble:
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Press 3 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture into the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch baking pan. Gently spread the filling mixture over the crust. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture on top of the filling.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool completely before cutting into squares.
Margot Nadeau says
This recipe sounds a lot like date squares which my husband and I love. Can’t you substitute raisins for dates?
Deborah says
I’m sure dates would work just fine!
Karen Brewer says
I make cinnamon raisin bars but my recipe is a little different. To finish them off I make confectioners sugar glaze with some cinnamon in and wow great
Nutmeg Nanny says
Yum 🙂 these bars look delicious, I am loving the crumb on top!
Karly says
These bars are calling my name, I must have them! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
Julie @ Julie's Eats & Treats says
I adore oatmeal raisin cookies also so I can’t wait to try it in bar form which is so much less time consuming! Plus that crumb topping pushes it over the edge!
Christine says
These look amazing, and not to mention genius. I love oatmeal date bars, and I love oatmeal raisin cookies, so making these seems like the perfect way to combine those… Making them this weekend!
Anna (Hidden Ponies) says
Yummm…I love crumb bars!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
Oatmeal raisin is my favorite cookie too so I’m sure I’ll love these!
kelley {mountain mama cooks} says
These look awesome- my dad LOVES oatmeal raisin cookies… I think I need to make him a batch for fathers day! Your reunion sounds like a ton of fun too!
Annie @ Annie's Noms says
Loving these! I love oatmeal and raisin cookies and I don’t know why, but sometimes you just need a bar instead! These look perfect 🙂
sally @ sallys baking addiction says
oatmeal raisin cookies are my favorite cookie ever. No lie! I would love them in bar form, Deborah! Have fun at the family reunion!
vanillasugarblog says
when I’m feeling horribly lazy, so lazy that even cookies are too much work, I spread the cookie dough into a pan and call it bars. LOL!
Emily says
My husband would love these! Of course my kids would think I ruined them by adding raisins instead of chocolate chips. 😉
Joanne says
Oatmeal raisin always tastes like comfort to me! I love it in cookie form but I think I’d adore it even more in these bars…more chewy texture in each bite!
Jaclyn says
Yum, these look so good! Very cute pics! I’ve been looking for one of those milk glasses forever they seem hard to find if you only want one :).
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says
These look so delilcious, Deborah! Perfectly crumbly, moist and chewy. You’ve got me craving them now!
Laura@bakinginpyjamas says
These look very moreish, I love the combination of oats and raisins.
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
We never do reunions. We totally should! I love these bars. I want a reunion with them. 🙂
Cheryl illinois says
Oatmeal raisin are my favorite cookies. Can’t wait to try these. Grocery shopping tomorrow and will buy raisins and make these in the afternoon since it is supposed to be pretty cool (50)here in Chicago.
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
Love these bars, Deborah! I always pair oatmeal with raisins. Thank you for linking up to my scones! Pinning your bars!
Vanessa @ Mom's Menu Planning says
These bars look like heaven to eat and so simple to make!
Leslie says
I love oatmeal raisin cookies and I can’t wait to try this bar recipe! It will be perfect for bringing to a potluck this summer.
Tieghan says
I love making bars!! So much less time consuming than baking cookies. These look so good and I bet they will be perfect for your family reunion!
Colleen @ What's Baking in the Barbershop?! says
Ooooh, top 5 favorite bars right now? That’s a good sign! I need to try these. Love oatmeal raisin cookies, and I KNOW I would love them in bar form!
Rosa says
Lovely bars! A wonderful snack item.
Cheers,
Rosa
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Thanks for linking up to my Oatmeal Raisin Slice & Bake Cookies. Your bars look PERFECT. I love making bars – so much faster/easier than cookies. But I love oatmeal in any form!
That Taste of Home Church Supper Desserts sounds like something I’d love!