Oatmeal Raisin Bars

These Oatmeal Raisin Bars have a simple crumb crust and are filled with a creamy raisin mixture. If you love oatmeal raisin cookies, you’ll love these delicious bars!

I rarely meet a bar that I don’t like, but these Oatmeal Raisin Bars belong at the top of the list! For more fabulous bar desserts, try these Lemon Bars or these Caramel Brownies.

As a lover of the oatmeal raisin cookie, these Oatmeal Raisin Bars are a go-to.

If you are a fan of oatmeal raisin cookies, these bars are for you. A crumbly crust is topped with a creamy filling that is stuffed with raisins. Then more crumb goes on top and everything is baked together.

The bars are messy – all that crumb mixture! – but I would honestly categorize them as in the top at least 5 of my favorite bar recipes right now. Really. I really, really liked them.

Oatmeal raisin lovers – this one needs to go to the top of your “to try” list!

Ingredients

• Sugar: You will need both white sugar and brown sugar. The white sugar will go in the filling, and the brown sugar goes in the crumb base and topping. I use light brown sugar, but you could use dark brown sugar for a more intense flavor.
• Cornstarch: The cornstarch is important to thicken up the raisin center.
• Cinnamon: This is a pretty typical spice for when oatmeal and raisins are involved. It brings in just a hint of cinnamon flavor.
• Sour Cream: The sour cream makes the center the perfect texture. I have only tested this recipe with full fat sour cream.
• Eggs: You will want to make sure your eggs are at room temperature. You will be adding a hot liquid to them while whisking, so if they are cold, you are more likely to scramble your eggs instead of gently cooking them.
• Raisins: I know not everyone is a raisin fan, but the raisins are pretty important for the flavor in this recipe.
• Oats: The original recipe I had printed here used quick cooking oats, but I have found that I like regular old fashioned oats better. But either really could be used.
• Baking Soda: This keeps the crumb base from being too dense.
• Salt: The salt balances flavors.
• Butter: You want to make sure your butter is cold, and it’s easiest to incorporate when it is cut into small squares.

How to Make Oatmeal Raisin Bars

STEP 1: You’ll want to make your filling first because you need to let it come to room temperature. Combine all of the filling ingredients except the eggs and the raisins. Cook until it is bubbling.

STEP 2: Whisk your eggs in another bowl, then add some of the hot filling, whisking the whole time.

STEP 3: Add the egg mixture back into the saucepan, whisking the whole time. Let the mixture come to a boil again, and then let it cook for 2 minutes, stirring the whole time. The mixture will become nice and thick.

STEP 4: Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the raisins. Then let the mixture sit until it comes to room temperature.

STEP 5: Meanwhile, you can make your crumb mixture, which will be both the crust and the topping. Combine the flour, oats, sugar, baking soda and salt. Then use a pastry cutter or a fork to cut the butter into the mixture until you have coarse crumbs.

STEP 6: Take 3 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture and press it into the bottom of a 9×13-inch pan that has been greased or sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

STEP 7: Take your raisin mixture and spread it over the crust. Do this gently, as you don’t want to pull up any of the crust.

STEP 8: Sprinkle the rest of the crumb mixture over the top of the raisin filling.

STEP 9: Bake the bars until they are golden brown. Let them cool before cutting into bars and serving.

Tips and Tricks

You want to make sure the butter is cut in evenly for the crumb mixture. Using a pastry cutter is my favorite way to do this, but you can also use your hands. Just pinch the mixture between your fingers until the crumbs are small and even.

You can line the baking pan with parchment paper, but I find that these bars don’t really stick as long as you grease the pan ahead of time.

I like to store these in the refrigerator. They are delicious at room temperature, but I really love them straight from the fridge.

More Oatmeal Recipes

Oatmeal Raisin Muffins
Oatmeal Cake
Cocoa Oatmeal Muffins
Oatmeal Cookies
Oatmeal Muffins

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