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The recipe is finally here, GoGo’s Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars!!!
Named after my outstanding mother-in-law, whom we call GoGo, these bars are one of her specialties in the kitchen that everyone in her life knows and loves so very much! Growing up, my husband, Clayton, says that these oatmeal chocolate chip bars were a regular staple in their house and there was almost always a batch ready to be eaten at any given time. In fact, all of his high school friends know and love GoGo’s Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars and always rant and rave about how they loved them growing up! GoGo took them everywhere with her, and I completely understand why.
These chocolate chip bars are just about the easiest recipe to make, using limited ingredients and a box of yellow cake mix. It can be thrown together at any given time and taken to a friend in need of a little sweet treat, a potluck gathering or when hosting friends at your house.
While they are *fantastic* when warm or at room temperature, they are (arguably) better kept in the freezer and eaten straight out of there — a Snodgrass family secret! We carve them into squares, toss them in a ziplock and leave them in the freezer for a sweet treat whenever your heart desires or easily warmed up if that is what you prefer. But, if you do try our freezer trick, definitely let me know what you think!
GoGo’s Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars
Ingredients
- 1 [15-ounce] box Miss Jones vanilla cake mix *use my code 20DEFINED for 20% off
- ½ cup avocado oil
- ¼ cup water
- 1 large egg
- 1 stick butter, softened
- ½ cup packed Miss Jones Smart Sugar *you can also use regular brown sugar here
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats *do not use quick oats
- 1 [8-ounce] package of semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and line a 9x13 metal baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl with a paddle attachment, combine the avocado oil, water, egg, softened butter, smart sugar (or brown sugar if using) and only ½ of the bag of the vanilla cake mix. Mix at medium speed until well combined.
- Add the remaining cake mix and the oats. Mix over medium speed once more until just combined.
- Fold in the chocolate chips. Transfer to the parchment-lined baking pan and spread into an even layer using a rubber spatula.
- Transfer to the preheated oven and bake until the center has just set (you want it to still be pretty soft in the center so try to not over cook)-- mine takes exactly 30 minutes. It might not look completely done, but once it has time to set it will be perfect and still chewy in the center.Allow the bars to cool completely, at least 30 more minutes, before lifting the parchment paper out of the baking dish and carving into squares.
Notes
- Quick oats does not work as an alternative in this recipe!
- 1:1 substitute for brown sugar
- I do not like plain coconut sugar as a sub in this recipe
- I have tried grain-free boxed yellow cake mix as an alternative and it did not work the same.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I saw at the top of the blog post it says updated March 2023… did you change anything about the recipe itself? I made these a ton when I was breastfeeding my first child, and I want them to be exactly the same. So so delicious!!
Just updated some formatting, not the recipe! Enjoy!
I make a batch of these every Sunday with my kids- it’s their sweet treat for camp, school, or wherever. Awesome recipe 🙂 Oh, and we prefer them from the freezer as well!
Love to hear it!
If you’ve never made these, stop what you’re doing right now and go make them bc OMG
Idk what took me so long to finally make these but omg they’re incredible. Will definitely be a go-to for my family from here on out!
Awesome recipe and super easy to make / have the ingredients on hand! Everyone who tries a bar LOVES it!
Glad to hear it! Hope you popped a few in the freezer too — so good!
Made these today and they’re incredible! I did alter a smidge! I used 3/4 c of chocolate chips and 1/2 c golden raisins! Had to cook 5 minutes longer but they’re amazing! Will definitely ck out the freezer method but my hubby thinks warmed up can’t be beat!
Just clarifying if it’s a yellow or vanilla cake mix since it says both- thanks!!
Either one works! Which ever you have is great!
We made these with a GF King Arthur muffin mix (had no other mixes on hand) and added a tsp of almond extract. Also used melted coconut oil instead of avocado oil. They turned out AMAZING and we will be making for every event!
yay! glad you loved them and thanks for leaving the note about subs for others!! so helpful! 🙂
Yes, thank you for letting me know. I just bought a GF cake mix and I’m hoping they turn out as well. Excited to try!
Hi, could I add bananas? And use sprouted rolled oats?
I bet it would be delicious!! I *think* the sprouted rolled oats could work– they might have a more “rustic” bite to them, as the quick oats really soften as they baked more easily. But i think it could be nice w/ the banana
How many tablespoons of butter? Not sure if by a stick of butter you mean 8 tbsp or 4. Thanks!
8!
Alex, I made these awhile ago but remember coconut and nuts also? Am I going crazy? Daughter-in-law is coming home from the hospital after getting birth to my grandson and she loves these and wanted to make her some. If you could let me know I’d appreciate it, thank you
I think you may be thinking of this recipe! Similar, but has coconut, pretzels, etc.: https://www.instagram.com/p/CbqH0FZhkE_/
THE BEST. I make these for everything now! Meal train…you get GoGo’s bars! Need to cheer up a friend…you get GoGo’s bars! Teacher appreciation…you get Gogo’s bars! 100% success rate on asking for the recipe after delivery 🙂 Thank you Alex and GoGo!
I have made these multiple times with yellow cake mix, canola oil, and brown sugar. They always turn out great. I agree with others about adding more choc chips. If I’m making them for something festive, I’ll also add white choc chips and 1/2 c of sprinkles to make them pop!
These sound amazing as an alternative to lactation cookies! Any recommendations for what to change amount of (if any) by adding 2 tbsp of flaxseed meal and 4 tbsp brewers yeast, which are amounts I usually add to cookie recipe?
Any luck making these lactation bars?? Would love to do the same.