Chocolate Chip Coconut Oatmeal Bars
The kids are back to school! Hooray for routine! Hooray for a few minutes for quiet each day! Hooray for structure! I never intended to take two weeks away from the blog but, my friends, I was at my end of my rope by the end of August. It took my everything to get through each day with two energetic children once all of our camps and lessons were over for the season. As far as cooking, I just stuck with simple meals while we endured one heatwave after another and kept my eye on the prize: school.
And now school is here!!!!! That means I have some time each day to myself again and I am back in the kitchen which makes me so so happy.
These cookie bars are the first things I’ve baked in a while. I wanted to give my daughter something extra special for her lunchbox and she was excited about the idea of oatmeal and chocolate chips and coconut together. They were somewhat inspired by these favorite cookies, but I wanted them in bar form because they are sturdier for the lunchbox and, I think, somehow more satisfying.
This is a great batter to make with kids if you are in the mood for a baking project. We loved getting back in the swing together bringing the batter together. They bake up easily and the hardest part is waiting for them to cool. When they do, they are still moist and slightly chewy, and have terrific texture from the oatmeal and coconut. I’ve never tried freezing them but I am sure it would work well. If you make these on a warm fall day you could even use them for ice cream sandwiches!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ sticks unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups rolled oats (not quick cooking)
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup sweetened coconut flakes
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8 baking pan with baking spray and set side.
- In a large bowl whisk the melted butter, sugars, egg, and salt until smooth and incorporated. Then, fold in the flour and stir until smooth. Fold in the oats, chocolate chips, and coconut flakes until evenly incorporated.
- Bake the bars for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the outer edges are browned and the top is golden brown. A cake tester inserted into the middle should come out clean. Allow them to cool in the pan until comfortable to touch, before slicing and serving.
Notes
You are correct in noting there isn't any leavening agent in these bars. They don't need it. They will rise enough as they are.
