Chocolate Oatmeal Bars {Crumb Bars}

Easy chocolate oatmeal bars recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. These crumb bars or crumble bars are are rich and fudgy with a chewy texture. They are composed of two layers: an oatmeal base and fudge layer on top.

*Thank you Blue Ribbon Orchard Choice and Sun-Maid California Figs for sponsoring today's post so that I can share this recipe with all of you. As always, all opinions are mine.*

My Mom would make these for me and my brother on our last last day of school exams and I still remember racing home as fast as I could so I could get to the tower of bars waiting for us in the kitchen, before my brother. I knew once he got to them, I would only end up with 1 or 2 slices, if that!

If I were to describe this treat, I would tell you to imagine the flavors of the best chocolate oatmeal cookie you have ever eaten in your life. Then, transform that into thick chunky bars. You need a spatula only to make them, just like these Homemade Granola Bars (Peanut Butter) and these S'mores Bars (No Bake).

Jump to:

• Key ingredients for old fashioned chocolate fudge crumb bars
• Variations
• More add-in options
• How to make chocolate oatmeal bars recipe from scratch?
• Tips and techniques
• Recipe FAQs
• Storage
• More easy bar recipes
• Recipe

Key ingredients for old fashioned chocolate fudge crumb bars

• Butter- Use unsalted so your dessert doesn't get too salty.
• Vanilla extract- Complements the chocolate with warm undertones.
• Sugar- You will need both brown and granulated sugars.
• Flour- Use only all-purpose flour or this recipe won't turn out.
• Oats- Must use the old fashioned kind.
• Chocolate chips- Used as the base of the fudge layer.
• Condensed milk- Not to be confused with evaporated milk.
• Figs- This sweet fruit combines well with the chocolate flavors.

Variations

• To make a peanut butter version- Add ¼ cup melted peanut butter in the oatmeal mixture. Also, replace figs with ⅓ cup peanut butter chips. Toss them on top of the chocolate fudge layer along with a drizzle of 2 tablespoon melted peanut butter.
• For a chocolate chip version- Replace figs with your choice of chocolate chips. Or just add an additional topping of mini chocolate chips.
• Protein/collagen powders- Can be completely omitted wihthout affecting the recipe. They are optional.
• Add nuts- For extra flavor and crunch, including cashews, almonds, walnuts, or pistachios.
• Replace figs- With other dried fruit, such as apricots, plums, peaches, strawberries, or even mangos.
• Double it- And place in a 9x13 pan to share at parties and events.
• Drizzle- Easy Chocolate Ganache or Hot Fudge Sauce over the top.

More add-in options

• Chocolate chips- Dark, semisweet, milk or white all taste fantastic.
• Caramel- I like to use small pieces of soft caramel candy or caramel bits.
• Nuts- Such as roughly chopped almonds, peanuts, pistachios, pecans.
• Freeze dried fruits- Strawberries and raspberries taste wonderful here.
• Dried fruits- I used figs but you can use roughly chopped dates, cranberries, cherries, mangoes, pineapples, prunes.

How to make chocolate oatmeal bars recipe from scratch?

1. Beat together butter and egg- Then mix in sugars and vanilla (Image 1, 2).
2. Add in flour and oats- And combine to make a thick mixture (Images 3, 4, 5).
3. Spread this mixture- In a square pan, reserving one third of the mixture (Image 6).
4. In another mixing bowl- Add chocolate chips, butter, and condensed milk (Image 7).
5. Heat in the microwave- And mix everything until smooth (Image 8).
6. Pour this mixture- On top of the oatmeal layer (Image 9).
7. Toss- Some chopped figs on top (Image 10).
8. Pour spoonfuls- Of remaining oatmeal mixture on top (Image 11).
9. Bake- Until done and enjoy (Image 12).

Tips and techniques

• Use the best quality ingredients you can find- Your recipe is only as good as the ingredients you use.
• To prevent batter from sticking to the pan- You must line the pan with aluminum foil and oil it very well or use good quality parchment paper.
• Make smooth and even slices- By covering pan with foil paper or saran wrap and chilling in the fridge for 2 hours.
• Make triangular slices- I used a square pan to cut squares but you can use a round pan and cut triangular slices, if you like.
• Use all-purpose flour only- Because if you replace the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour or any other type of flour then the texture will change dramatically.
• Old fashioned oats must be used- Instead of quick cooking oats.
• Don't replace butter with oil or shortening- Because butter adds so much richness to these bars.
• Adjust the amount of figs- According to your personal preference. I use quite a bit because I like them a lot.
• Don't replace sugar with honey or molasses- Because it does not work well in this recipe.
• Don't replace sweetened condensed milk with evaporated milk or whole milk- Because that will make the chocolate mixture very thin and runny, which does not yield the best fudge layer.
• Be sure to press down the oat mixture tightly- Because that allows the bars to hold their shape together very well.

I used Sun-Maid's California Calimyrna Figs this time and that truly enhanced the wonderful chewy texture. You can also use their Mission Figs or Blue Ribbon Orchard Choice Mission Figlets but in my opinion, California Calimyrna ones look the best. I also like their flavor and texture the best in baking. Be sure to check out many other recipes on the Valley Fig Growers website.

Recipe FAQs

Storage

• Room temperature- Store in a sealed container for up to 2 days.
• Refrigerate- Store in a sealed container for up to 5 days. 
• Freeze- Once they have fully cooled to room temperature, cut slices and wrap individual slices in saran wrap. Place them in a sealed freezer bag. When you are ready to enjoy them, remove them from the freezer and place them at room temperature until they thaw and enjoy.
• Make ahead- These can be made 5 days before serving if placed in a sealed container in the fridge. Extend the life by placing them in a sealed container in the freezer for up to 1 month. Just be sure to thaw them before serving.

More easy bar recipes

• Date Bars (Or Squares)
• Best Rice Krispie Treats
• Cake Mix Cookie Bars
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars
• Easy Brookies (With Brownie Mix)

Recipe