Oatmeal Brookie Bars – Chewy brownies are topped with cinnamon oatmeal cookie dough and baked together to form a brookie!
Today’s recipe is combination of two of my favorite desserts: oatmeal cookies and brownies. They actually work quite nicely together because the cinnamon in the cookies is a welcomed pairing with the chocolate in the brownies. Plus, the textures in each are quite different that they make for an intriguing bite that is chewy, gooey, and slightly crisp.
Brookies (cookies and brownies combined into one) aren’t a novel combination – I’ve seen recipes for brookies for about a decade now. But I’ve always steered clear of them because the cookie cooked wayyyy faster than the brownie, causing the cookie to be almost brown. How could you possibly enjoy a crunchy cookie on top of a chewy brownie?
However, I have found the solution – oatmeal cookies! They cook evenly with the brownies and stay perfectly chewy on top of the gooey brownie. Here are my Oatmeal Brookie Bars!
Making the brownie
The first step in these oatmeal brookie bars is making the brownie. It’s a simple recipe made with melted chocolate and cocoa powder. To start, the chocolate is melted with butter. Sugar is added to cool down the mixture and then come the eggs and vanilla extract.
The dry ingredients are mixed separately and then added to the chocolate mixture. It’s folded together just until mixed. Spread the batter into a 9×9 pan lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Set aside while you make the cookie dough.
Making the cookie dough
The oatmeal cookie dough is made similar to any other cookie dough, with the only difference being that some of the flour is substituted for oats. To start, the softened butter is creamed with the sugars. Egg and vanilla extract are added and combined with the mixture.
The dry ingredients are mixed separately and then added to the butter mixture. The two are combined on low just until a dough forms. The dough is spooned over the top of the brownie batter and spread into a layer. This can get tricky because the brownie batter will want to stick to the cookie dough as you spread it so don’t worry about spreading smoothly because the batter will melt into a layer once in the oven.
Bake until the cookie dough layer starts to turn golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before cutting.
Tips and Tricks
- Oats. Use old fashioned oats (not instant!) for these bars so that the oat texture remains and doesn’t get gooey.
- Chop the chocolate. To help the chocolate melt smoother and faster, make sure to chop it before microwaving with the butter.
- Cool completely. Do not even attempt to cut the baked brookies until they have cooled completely. Otherwise, you’ll get a gloopy mess.
Oatmeal Brookie Bars
Ingredients
For the brownies:
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup Dutch cocoa powder
- 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chopped
- ½ cup butter cubed
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
For the oatmeal cookies:
- ⅓ cup butter softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
For the brownies:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees (325 degrees if you have a dark-colored pan). Line 9×9 square baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Spray with non-stick spray. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients from the brownies: flour, cocoa, and salt. Set aside.
- In medium bowl, add butter and chopped chocolate. Melt in microwave in 30 second increments until melted. Add sugar and whisk together until comboned and choclate is slightly cooled. Add eggs, one at a time and whisk to combine. Add vanilla extract and whisk to combine. Add in all the dry ingredients and whisk together until mixture turns to a thick batter. Spread into greased 9×9 pan. Set aside and make the cookie dough.
For the oatmeal cookie dough:
- Cream sugars and butter together in a bowl of a stand mixer. Add egg and vanilla and mix on low until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Add oats, flour, salt, cinnamon, and baking soda. Mix on low until combined. Spoon dough over the brownie batter. No need to smooth out because they will melt into one even layer.
- Bake brownies in preheated until tje top of the oatmeal cookie layer turns golden brown, about 20 minutes. Once the brownies are done, remove from oven. Let cool for a couple hours before cutting into 16 even brownie squares.
Amy Casey says
OMG! These were so delicious! The combo of oatmeal cookies and brownies is genius. My family loved this recipe.
Jenny says
Isn’t oatmeal & chocolate the new peanut butter and jelly (grin). Can’t wait to make these tasty bars.
Jere Cassidy says
Dang, how incredible are these brownies? I love the two layers and the two flavors together.
Leslie says
Where has this recipe been all my life? I feel like this was created just for me!! Absolutely heavenly!!
Jessica says
Mmmmm, these were absolutely delicious!!! While both layers were good, the brownie was my favorite. So gooey and chocolatey. I’m saving this recipe to make again soon.
Michelle says
These are too good to be true. Perfectly fudgy
Sean says
I think you read my mind with this dessert two of my faves together. It was a very tasty recipe.
rachel says
These look SO yummy. Can’t wait to make them.
Pete says
I love brownies, I love oatmeal cookies, what a delicious combo!! Why didn’t I think of this before! It’s the kids new favorite recipe!
Julie says
I seriously need more of these in my life! What a fabulous combo of brownie and cookie. My family already asked for them again.
tisha says
Brookies are some of my favorite treats!!
Heather says
Love this twist on the traditional brownie! Can’t wait to try!
Jill says
Loved the combination of brownie and oatmeal cookie together. So good! Thanks for the recipe!
April says
Two of my favorite things! Yes please. Can’t wait to try these this weekend. Thank you
Tara says
Oh how fun! I absolutely love the combination of the brownie and the cookie. That texture looks absolutely fantastic.
Nico says
Wow this recipe is seriously unreal!!! So much rich flavor yet so easy.
Nancy says
I wish I could give you 10 star recipe rating. These bars are to die for!
Ann says
I currently have these baking in the oven, and I am so excited to give them a taste! My kids are also very excited! Thanks for the share!
Mimi says
Omg yes please! This recipe sounds divine I need to make it over the weekend
Amber Myers says
Ooo this is an amazing combo. I know I’d love this dessert!