I don’t consider myself an overly sentimental person, but I do have my moments. The very thought of an Oatmeal Cream Pie reminds me of visiting my grandparents’ house, where my grandmother almost always had a box of those sweet, chewy treats in her kitchen. And I almost always helped myself to one.
I’ve recreated Oatmeal Cream Pies in the past, but I took advantage of a bout of laziness to create a bar version. No cookie scooping, no frosting of individual cookies. Instead, the dough is simply baked in a pan, and then the frosting is just spread on top.
There are no great secrets or Important Baking Tips that need to be shared for making these bars. They’re about as straightforward as you’ll get in the baking world. Mix the wet ingredients, add the dry ingredients, and then just spread the dough in the pan. After a little cooling time for the bars, take a few minutes to whip up a super quick frosting to top them off. See? Easy!
If you bake with any regularity, you probably have everything you need to make these already in your kitchen. So if you have a few spare minutes and a sweet craving, get in there and get baking!
Frosted Oatmeal Bars
These simple Frosted Oatmeal Bars recreate a childhood favorite with a quick and easy recipe.
Ingredients
For the bars:
- 2 & 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the frosting
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
To make the bars:
- Preheat oven to 350°. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan.
- Stir together the oats, flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter, brown sugar, and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla.
- Reduce mixer speed to low. Gradually add the oat mixture, mixing just until combined.
- Spread the dough evenly in the prepared pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until a pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool the bars completely in the pan.
To make the frosting:
- Using an electric mixer on medium speed, mix the confectioners' sugar, butter, cream, and vanilla until thoroughly combined and smooth.
- Spread evenly on top of the cooled bars.
24 Comments on “Frosted Oatmeal Bars”
Jennifer, these look SO good! I grew up on oatmeal cream pies, so these are right up my alley! Can’t wait to make them!
YES!! I have no patience for sandwich cookies lately, so these are music to my oatmeal cookie loving ears!
I pulverized half the oats before mixing. Then, once mixed, I pressed half the dough in the pan. I took the other half, and rolled it onto parchment the same size as the pan (or press it into another pan the same size, lined in parchment). I spread jam over one half, then took the other half (chilled) and turned it out onto the jam. This makes a “jam sandwich”, so to speak. Peel off the parchment and then bake just until lightly brown. Essentially, in the end, you end up with a homemade Nutra Grain bar! YUM!
Oooh, that sounds so good!
How is it best to store these and how long do they keep for?
Hi, Noa. I would store them in an airtight container. If they won’t be eaten within a day or so, I’d refrigerate them. You can bring some or all of them to room temperature before you serve them. They’ll likely keep 4 or 5 days that way.
Will these work in a 9×13?
Hi, Kaisha. They will probably do just fine if you double the recipe.
SO good! I made these today. The whole family enjoyed!!! Thank you!
That’s great to hear, Heidi!
Can I use instant oats instead?
Hi, Stephanie. Quick oats are cut smaller than old-fashioned rolled oats. The flavor shouldn’t be affected, but the bars will be thinner and less chewy.
These look very similar to my grandmothers recipe . But she did a chocolate frosting top. Been a long time fav. of the family.
I’ll have to try these with chocolate frosting!
This is my favourite recipe. I’ve made it a dozen times. ♥️♥️
I’m so glad to hear it! Thanks, Vanessa!
Can I mix by hand If I hand beat the eggs? Moving and packed beater
Hi, Deb. Yes, it will just take a little more effort. You can think of it as Arm Day!
Hi! Can I substitute the sugar with maple syrup?
Hi, Erica. I’ve not tried that, so I can’t say for sure. You’d likely need to increase the flour just a bit to offset the added liquid.
Yes, I just made these and I used QUICK OATS, the taste, soooo good, the texture, pppperfect for chewy bars & the look, even better than the posted pics! Tweeking the quick oats to me seems much better but I’m partial to them in my baking!
Ta-Ta
I’m so glad you enjoyed the bars!
Made this bars… oh my ! Where have these been all my life. Absolutely delish. I added half the dough into pan, added some fresh raspberries and added remaining dough. Made a cream cheese frosting. Thank you, thanks for this recipe.
I’m glad you enjoyed the bars, Martha!