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Iced Oatmeal Cookie Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 133 reviews

These Iced Oatmeal Cookie Bars combine the hearty texture of oats and warm spices with a sweet, creamy vanilla icing. Baked to golden perfection, they are soft yet set enough to hold together as bars, making an irresistible treat perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Bars

  • 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 cup (95 g) old fashioned oats
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (140 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon molasses (or honey)

Vanilla Icing

  • 1/2 cup (60 g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons whole milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8 x 8 inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside for easy removal of the bars later.
  2. Process the Oats: Melt the butter and transfer it to a medium bowl to cool for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, pulse the oats in a food processor until they are chopped into smaller pieces but not ground into flour.
  3. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the pulsed oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Set this mixture aside.
  4. Create Sugar and Butter Mixture: Add granulated sugar and brown sugar to the melted butter. Mix on low speed or whisk for 1 minute until the mixture looks like wet sand.
  5. Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, then stir in vanilla extract and molasses thoroughly until combined.
  6. Combine Dry and Wet Mixtures: Fold the dry ingredients gently into the butter mixture using a spatula or wooden spoon just until the flour is incorporated. Avoid overmixing to keep the bars tender.
  7. Bake the Bars: Spread the dough evenly in the prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 24 minutes or until the edges are set and the top turns a rich golden brown. Do not overbake to prevent dryness.
  8. Cool the Bars: Remove from oven and cool in the pan on a wire cooling rack for 1 to 2 hours until the bars reach room temperature and are cool to the touch before icing.
  9. Prepare Vanilla Icing: In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until the icing is thick but smooth. Adjust consistency by adding more powdered sugar if too runny.
  10. Ice the Bars: Once cooled, spoon the icing over the bars, spreading to cover but leaving some cookie surface visible.
  11. Set and Serve: Allow the icing to set completely before slicing the bars into squares and serving.

Notes

  • Ensure the melted butter is only slightly cooled so it doesn’t cook the egg when mixing.
  • Do not over-process the oats; you want small pieces, not oat flour, for texture.
  • Avoid overmixing the batter after adding dry ingredients to maintain a tender crumb.
  • Check the bars at 20 minutes and keep an eye until golden to avoid overbaking.
  • Make sure bars are completely cool before icing to prevent melting.
  • You can substitute honey for molasses for a milder flavor in the bars.

Keywords: Oatmeal Cookie Bars, Iced Oatmeal Bars, Easy Dessert, Vanilla Icing, Baked Bars, Cookie Bars Recipe

Find it online: https://chefmilacook.com/iced-oatmeal-cookie-bars-recipe/