Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This should take about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.
- Incorporate Oats and Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the oats and chocolate chips using a spatula. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the bars dense.
- Transfer and Bake: Spread the dough evenly into your prepared baking pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 22-25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. Once completely cooled, slice into squares or rectangles.
Notes
- Don’t Overbake: Keep a close eye on the oven the bars are done when they’re lightly golden. Overbaking can make them dry.
- Softened Butter: Ensure your butter is at room temperature for easy creaming with the sugars. This step is crucial for the perfect texture.
- Even Layers: Use a spatula to evenly spread the dough in the pan, ensuring the bars bake uniformly.
- Cooling Matters: Let the bars cool completely before slicing. This prevents them from crumbling and helps achieve clean edges.