These Easy Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Bars Are the Protein- and Fiber-Filled Snack Your Morning Is Missing

Growing up, it was near impossible to resist one of those giant cookies scribbled with colorful icing that smelled too good to ignore in the mall food court. Who could forget how good it felt to bite into one of those big boys (and share them with all your BFFs—still LYLAS, crew). If you’re still reminiscing about the aroma and the scale of those treats, you’re in luck. On the latest episode of Alt-Baking Bootcamp, nutritionist Mia Rigden, CNS, shares her oatmeal raisin cookie bar recipe that’s chewy, hearty, and the size of an entire baking pan—much like our favorite preteen dessert.

As the saying goes, “sharing is caring,” and this gluten-free recipe is perfect for snacking on with the entire family or friend group. “I am going to save one of these because every time I make them, my husband and my son devour them immediately,” Rigden shares as she takes a bite. Crafted with nutrient-dense ingredients like gluten-free flour, rolled oats, raisins, and cinnamon, this healthy snack will satisfy your sweet tooth while offering many health benefits to help fuel your day.

Why we love these oatmeal raisin cookie bars

Rigden’s carefully-crafted recipe transforms a sugary oatmeal cookie into a delicious and nutritionist-approved delight with tons of fiber from the oats and anti-inflammatory properties from the cinnamon, which can help fight the effects of chronic inflammation. She also adds a generous amount of antioxidant-rich raisins, which she says gives the bars an extra bit of natural sweetness and tons of additional fiber. In addition to the raisins, the recipe also calls for grass-fed butter, which is loaded with vitamins A, D, and E. “Grass-fed butter is an excellent healthy fat, and it gives these oatmeal raisin cookie bars this luscious flavor and texture,” Rigden says.

During the video, Rigden shares a few simple baking tips and tricks to guarantee that this recipe comes out perfectly every time. For starters, to ensure that the bars don’t stick to the bottom of the pan, Rigden demonstrates her all-time favorite way to keep this from happening, and it’s a real game-changer. Ready? Rather than scooping the oatmeal batter directly into the pan or greasing it with oil, she lines it with a sheet of parchment paper. Clean-up, fuss-free serving, and no messy pans—check, check, check.

Best of all, this super easy recipe comes together in a matter of minutes and doesn’t require any fancy baking equipment or ingredients. “They’re just so good with a tea in the afternoon or even a weekend breakfast with a coffee. These are one of my favorite desserts to have around the house, and I can’t wait for you to try them,” Rigden gushes.

Now that we’re all craving these, you can find the recipe below and watch the full episode to see exactly how it’s done.

Oatmeal raisin cookie bars recipe

Yields 10 servings

Ingredients1 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour2 cups old fashioned rolled oats1 Tsp ground cinnamon1/2 tsp baking soda1/4 tsp salt1/2 cup butter, melted2 eggs1/2 cup honey1 cup raisinsDark chocolate chips for topping, optional

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9 x 12-inch baking pan with parchment paper.

2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.

3. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk the melted butter, eggs, and honey until well-incorporated.

4. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients to combine.

5. Next, mix in the raisins until evenly incorporated.

6. Press the dough into the baking pan in an even layer and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. If using, gently melt chocolate chips in the microwave and drizzle over the bars.

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