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    Home » Recipes » Sweets

    Oatmeal Cookie Bars with Brown Butter and Salted Nutella Swirl

    December 4, 2020 by Chenée Lewis

    80 shares
    Easy Brown Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars with Salted Nutella Swirl | Chenée Today

    I've been really looking forward to today's recipe because there's nothing better than oatmeal chocolate chip cookies! Except it turns out there is something better, and it's these brown butter oatmeal cookie bars with a salted Nutella swirl.

    JUMP TO RECIPE PIN FOR LATER SAVE THIS RECIPE SAVED!

    *This post contains affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my disclosure for details*.

    And if you like this oatmeal cookie bars recipe, try my Triple Chocolate Brownies, my Spiced Banana Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting, Biscoff Blondies with White Chocolate!

    Oatmeal Cookie Bars Recipe

    It's kind of a mouthful to say, but I wanted to put it all in the title so you know all the goodness you're getting in these oatmeal cookie bars! They start with a super easy one-bowl oatmeal cookie dough with brown butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

    Then that dough is pressed into a pan and swirled with warmed Nutella chocolate hazelnut spread. Once baked, they're sprinkled with sea salt and cut into bars. It's an easy and decadent treat that gives you everything you could want!

    Jump to:
    • Oatmeal Cookie Bars Recipe
    • Can you use one minute oats in cookies or bars?
    • Ingredients
    • Equipment
    • Related Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Can you use one minute oats in cookies or bars?

    We're going for texture here, so I wouldn't recommend it. Quick-cooking or instant oats will lose most of their texture while the bars are baking, and we want our oats will keep some of their structure and add great texture to our cookie bars to contrast with the creamy Nutella on top.

    So what you'll want to look for are old-fashioned oats, usually for sale in the large cylindrical containers in the breakfast aisle of the supermarket. Or you can grab some online. Either way, the old-fashioned kind are the best for these oatmeal cookie bars! Now let's take a look at the rest of the ingredients we'll need:

    Ingredients

    • brown butter - this is what gives the oatmeal cookie bars that rich nutty flavor, and complements the hazelnut flavor in the Nutella perfectly! I use salted butter to make my brown butter, but if you use unsalted butter, just add a ½ teaspoon of salt to your dry ingredients. I'll give you instructions below, but also check out my full post on how to brown butter!
    • brown sugar - you can use light or dark brown sugar, or do what I do and use a mix of both!
    • eggs - your eggs should be room temperature so that they don't cool down your cookie dough too much.
    • vanilla extract - it should be a good-quality pure vanilla extract, to make sure that you're really bringing out the delicious vanilla and nutty flavors in these oatmeal cookie bars!
    • old-fashioned oats - as I mentioned above, definitely use old-fashioned oats to give your cookie bars more of that oatmeal texture!
    • all-purpose flour - measure your flour by weight using a kitchen scale, or with the spoon-and-level method.
    • baking powder - to give a little lift to these cookie bars.
    • cinnamon - this is optional, but I love the flavor of a bit of spice along with the brown butter, chocolate, and hazelnut.
    • Nutella - or you can use your favorite chocolate-hazelnut spread. We're heating it up a bit to give it a slightly pourable consistency, and then we'll swirl it into our cookie dough in the pan. And if you're a chocolate lover, check out my Hot Chocolate Mug Cake!
    • flaky sea salt - also optional, but the saltiness on top of these cookie bars works so well with the sweet Nutella!

    Equipment

    Now that you've got your ingredients together, here's what you'll need to make these easy oatmeal cookie bars! You'll want to grab a 9x9 square baking pan, a whisk and rubber spatula, and a bowl! And you'll also need a sauté pan (light-colored, if possible) to brown your butter. And that's pretty much it!

    Related Recipes

    If you're a fan of these oatmeal cookie bars, you'll really love my Funfetti Cookie Cheesecake Bars. They're one of my favorite recipes, made from 5 easy ingredients! And they're made in the same 9x9 pan we're using for this recipe, so you're well on your way to enjoying them!

    For more oatmeal cookie goodness, try my Coconut Macadamia Oatmeal Cookies with White Chocolate Chunks. They're a soft, chunky oatmeal cookie full of toasted macadamias, shredded coconut, and creamy white chocolate. All the flavors and textures you could ask for in an oatmeal cookie!

    Funfetti Cookie Cheesecake Bars
    Funfetti Cookie Cheesecake Bars

    And if you love cookies, you're gonna wanna try my Chocolate Chip and Marshmallow Cookies!

    📖 Recipe

    Oatmeal Cookie Bars with Brown Butter and Salted Nutella Swirl

    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    These brown butter oatmeal cookie bars are a decadent treat, with the flavors of Nutella, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flaky sea salt! So easy to make and a perfect indulgence!
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Course: Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine :American
    Servings: 16 bars
    Calories: 319kcal
    Recipe Source: Chenée Lewis

    Equipment you may need

    • 9x9 baking pan
    • light-colored sauté pan
    • parchment paper
    • whisk
    • rubber spatula
    • mixing bowls
    • measuring cups and spoons

    Ingredients

    • 1⅛ cup salted butter - (2 sticks plus 2 tbsp); cut into chunks
    • 1¼ cup brown sugar - packed
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1 cup old-fashioned oats
    • 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ⅓ cup Nutella - or another chocolate-hazelnut spread
    • flaky sea salt - for sprinkling

    Instructions

    • Melt butter over medium-high heat, stirring. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until butter solids turn a rich caramel brown color and smells nutty. Immediately transfer to a heatproof container; set aside.
    • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x9 square baking pan with baking spray and line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides.
    • Whisk together brown butter and brown sugar in a large bowl until lightened and fluffy.
    • Whisk in eggs until fully incorporated, followed by vanilla.
    • Stri in oats with a rubber spatula until well combined.
    • Sift in flour, baking powder, and cinnamon. Fold with rubber spatula until flour mixture is just incorporated.
    • Spread dough into prepared pan and smooth with spatula or floured hands.
    • Heat Nutella in a microwave-safe container about 15 seconds. It should have a thinner, pourable consistency.
    • Pour nutella over dough and use a butter knife to swirl.
    • Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs.
    • Cool 10 minutes in pan, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
    • Sprinkle sea salt on top and cut into bars.
    Last Step!Click here to leave a review and a star rating! It helps spread the word and allows me to keep sharing free recipes! 🥰

    Notes

    Brown Butter: For a full step-by-step on how to brown butter with images and tips, check out my Brown Butter Appreciation Post.
    Storage/Freezing: These oatmeal cookie bars freeze well in an airtight container for up to two months, or they can be stored at room temperature for 2 days or in the fridge for up to 4 days.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 bar | Calories: 319 kcal | Carbohydrates: 42 g | Protein: 3 g | Fat: 16 g | Saturated Fat: 10 g | Cholesterol: 58 mg | Sodium: 111 mg | Potassium: 102 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 28 g | Calcium: 39 mg | Iron: 1 mg
    Nutrition Disclaimer
    Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can't wait to see (and share) your results! Follow me on Instagram at @chenee_today and tag #cheneetoday!

    PIN this brown butter oatmeal cookie bars for later!

    Easy Brown Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars with Salted Nutella Swirl | Chenée Today

    Last Updated on March 17, 2025 by Chenée Lewis

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    1. Kathleen Squires says

      December 05, 2020 at 12:13 am

      5 stars
      Made these today and they are sooo good! Super quick and easy to throw together!

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis says

        December 05, 2020 at 3:38 am

        I'm so glad they worked out for you! Thanks a bunch!

        Reply
    Easy Brown Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars with Salted Nutella Swirl | Chenée Today

    About Chenée

    I’m Chenée (kinda rhymes with “today”) and I love all types of baking and cooking! But my favorite recipes are ones that are quick and easy, and still yield impressive results. The ones you can't help but make again and again! That's what I share here, and I hope I can make your life a little easier along the way. MORE ABOUT CHENÉE >>

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