Even Better Than Starbucks Oat Bars
Even Better Than Starbucks Oat Bars
If you’re looking for an easy, chewy and delicious oat bar recipe, then try these Even Better Than Starbucks Oat Bars! I just know you’ll love them.
I have loved Starbucks Oat Bars for ever. They’re just SO delicious…oat-y, sweet and rich, but expensive when you end up buying one every time you grab a coffee. So I knew I had to create a recipe so that I could make them at home, and that’s exactly what I did. I have tried and tested a few different oat bar recipes over the years, and I’ve finally ended up with a variation of them that we love! Now you can make this homemade version of the popular Starbucks oat bars at home too.
Made with simple ingredients.
These oat bars are made with the most simple ingredients, all of which you likely have in your pantry already. Quick oats, butter, brown sugar, vanilla and sweetened condensed milk…the combination is decadent!
Quick and easy to make!
These oatmeal bars are so simple to make…with just a few minutes of prep, and 15 or so minutes of baking time, they’re ready to be cut into 25 bite-sized bars, or 15 bigger bars. Perfect when you need a quick snack!
Perfect for snacks and lunches.
Delicious, chewy, and oat-y, these nut-free bars are perfect for lunch boxes, snacks and with your morning coffee or tea. I like to make a batch on Sunday so we have them to enjoy throughout the week ahead. They are a great option for make ahead breakfast oat bars, and perfect for kids lunches!
Oat Bar Recipe Tips
- OATS: Make sure to use quick oats, not rolled oats!
- SUGAR: If you want to use less sugar, try using 1/3 cup of brown sugar. You can also use maple syrup instead of brown sugar.
- BUTTER: Use salted butter. If you use unsalted butter add 1/8 tsp more salt. I have also made these with melted coconut oil and they are delicious…but be aware that the bars will have a slight coconut flavour if you use it.
- BAKING TIP: These bars are a little crumbly. Just make sure to get the oat mixture batter patted down into the pan really well before baking, patted down and right into the corners of the pan.
- STORAGE: Keep these bars at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- FREEZING: These oat bars freeze well. Pack into a freezer bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months.
- OPTIONAL ADD-INS: Feel free to add chocolate chips (milk chocolate, dark chocolate or white chocolate), about 1/2 cup.
- GLUTEN FREE: These are naturally gluten free if you use gf varieties of oats.
Love Oat Bars? Try these!
Even Better Than Starbucks Oat Bars
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups quick oats, pulsed in a food processor for a few seconds, until they are like coarse meal
- 2 cups quick oats
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F.
- Line an 8×8 square baking tin with parchment paper. Set aside.
- As mentioned above, pulse 1 1/2 cups of quick oats in a food processor for a few seconds, until they are like coarse meal.1 1/2 cups quick oats, pulsed in a food processor for a few seconds, until they are like coarse meal
- In a large mixing bowl combine the ground oats with the remaining 2 cups of quick oats and salt.2 cups quick oats, 1/8 tsp salt
- In a small saucepan over low heat melt the butter.1/2 cup butter
- Then stir in the brown sugar and sweetened condensed milk. Stir until combined. Be careful not to boil the mixture, you just want everything combined, but not cooked.1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk, 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.1 tsp vanilla extract
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well.
- Press the mixture into the parchment paper lined prepared pan, making sure to spread the mixture evenly.
- Bake for 15 – 18 minutes. The edges should be slightly golden brown.
- Let the squares cool for about 10 minutes, then remove them from the pan and cut into 25 squares.
More Delicious Recipes Made with Sweetened Condensed Milk:
Have a delicious day!
These look so yummy! So glad you joined us at Homestyle Gathering! Hope to see you again this Tuesday!
Thank you Julie! And thank you again so much for hosting!
Would a square glass pan be okay to use?
Hi Sara! I think it would work just fine!
Could you add protein powder to this recipe?
Hi Angie! I’m not really familiar with protein powder, but I’m sure you could?
Hey Angie!! I tried it with the Quest unflavoured protein powder. I used 1.5 cups of protein powder instead of the 1.5 cups of the ground up oats. They taste great, and it saves you pulling out the food processor too!
This sounds delicious — I have a big family, so can I just double the recipe into a 9X13 glass pan?
Hi Lorrane! Absolutely, this recipe is easily doubled. Enjoy!
I tried it and It was a little too delicious! I wanted to comment about how much I appreciate the detail of your posts. The tips and tricks you add answer all the questions that I had and helped me make it turn out just right
Thank you so much for sharing Lorrane…I love to know that I’ve made something helpful and delicious!
These literally are better than Starbucks! I became obsessed with these bars while pregnant with my second child, but it became an expensive craving. These are amazing, hands down not even going to try any other recipe. Not to mention a great benefit is that the oats are excellent for boosting your milk supply. Thank you!!
Oh this makes me SO happy Shaneece!!
Theses are exact copies of Starbucks oat bars So in love. Thank you for this incredibly easy recipe.
I’m so happy you enjoyed them Tabitha!
These are so delicious and better than Starbucks!! Do you think I could freeze them in ziplock bags so they are an easy grab in the mornings?
Hi Megan! I’m so glad you enjoyed them! And yes, you can absolutely freeze them.
Absolutely love these! I’ve tried many copycat Starbucks Oatbar recipes and you definitely nailed it. This is now my go to recipe! Thanks for figuring it out! ❤️❤️
Oh I love that Paulette! I’m so happy you enjoy them!
Is there something else that you can use instead of the sweetened condensed milk?
Hi Caroline! Unfortunately I don’t think so, and I haven’t made them without it, so I’m not sure what I would even add instead.
Caroline,
You can make your own sweetened condensed milk out of canned coconut milk or even almond milk. I’m sure other milks as well. Just search the web for a recipe 😊
These are some of our favorite treats to make! Everyone who has tasted them, loves them. And so easy. Win-Win!
I’m so happy you enjoy them Nancy!
Mine turned out really dry, I’m not sure why… thinking I will add more of the condensed milk? Tasted good but too dry for my liking.
Hi Marcedys! These cookies are more like a shortbread so they are more dry than a classic chocolate chip cookie.