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 for 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. *GoGo says never take it out earlier or later than 30 minutes!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.
70 Comments
Kellie
April 14, 2021 at 10:21 pmhi there, I love that mixing bowl with paddles. Where did you find that?
Alex
April 15, 2021 at 1:45 pmIt is a Nutrimill Mixer!
Courtney
April 11, 2021 at 5:09 amPutting these in the freezer is a GAME CHANGER. So good omg
Jenny B
April 10, 2021 at 8:00 pmHi! How do I make these if I don’t have yellow cake mix?
Jenny
April 10, 2021 at 1:30 amHi! I don’t have cake mix. Is that a deal breaker for the recipe? What would I use instead?
Alex
April 11, 2021 at 10:40 pmFor this recipe– you’ll need a cake mix!
Laura B.
April 8, 2021 at 7:23 pmMade these with vegetable oil, brown sugar and traditional yellow cake mix. So good! Highly recommend the freezer tip. They are the perfect snack and I definitely savor it more eating it out of the freezer.
Joy B
March 29, 2021 at 7:56 pmI made these yesterday and they are perfect! Everyone loved them.
Teri
March 28, 2021 at 7:46 pmI have made these every week since I received the recipe! So tasty, so easy and even better frozen……Every time I go into the freezer for one they have magically disappeared.
Alex
March 28, 2021 at 11:18 pmhaha, same here!! glad you love them!
Tejal
March 27, 2021 at 5:34 pmMine didn’t set and I followed the directions to a T. The only differences being that I used olive oil instead of avocado oil and used a glass baking pan instead of metal. Do I just need to bake it longer??
Gail
April 15, 2021 at 12:11 amFirst time I made them with yellow cake mix and baked exactly 30 minutes. They were so yummy, especially frozen. I only had chocolate chunk chips and A partial bag of dark chips. I’m sure I added more than 8 oz. Anyway, the next time I used white cake mix and only 8 oz. Not nearly as good! Yellow cake and lots more chips is the way to go or should I say Go-Go!:)
Stefanie Wilson
March 26, 2021 at 2:09 amThese were delicious! I used a regular boxed yellow cake mix, canola oil, and brown sugar for substitutions. I thought the recipe called for too much chocolate so I’ll use less next time. Otherwise, these were perfect!
Allie
March 25, 2021 at 8:17 pmHi Alex! Can you use coconut oil instead of avocado oil?
Eve
April 13, 2021 at 2:27 pmHi! I just bought all the ingredients for these but I live in Colorado and my baking is always off when I try to do normal recipes. Do you have any recommendations on how to adjust for altitude baking?
Alex
April 13, 2021 at 6:02 pmI wish I knew more about altitude baking. But here is a great article that may provide helpful tips/tricks:
https://www.allrecipes.com/article/high-altitude-cake-baking/
Eve
April 19, 2021 at 7:05 pmUsed some of those tips!! Little less sugar, little more water. Temp 25′ higher since we live over 5000 feet. They turned out amazing! Love them frozen. Thank you!
Lily
March 20, 2021 at 9:29 pmThese are amazing!!! I did add an extra 7-8 mins to the cooking time. Everything else I used the exact ingredients and brands in the recipe. Huge hit even with my super picky kids. A new staple in our home. Thank you Alex!!!
Alex
March 21, 2021 at 12:39 pmThanks, Lily!! Glad you loved them!
amy
March 18, 2021 at 4:42 amI used a sugar free yellow cake mix and regular brown sugar. The sweetness was perfect. Took them to share with fellow nurses at work and you bet they’re getting devoured. What an easy recipe!
Alyssia
March 18, 2021 at 1:04 amThis sounds amazing! I just found out I can’t eat eggs.. Can you use egg substitue?
Alex
March 18, 2021 at 8:21 pmI’d use a ‘flax egg’
Stacey Jennette
March 17, 2021 at 10:17 pmI can’t wait to try these….thank you! Is this the correct Miss Jones Bakes code? I tried it and it didn’t work.
Alex
March 18, 2021 at 8:22 pmit might already be expired, let me ask them!
Heidi
March 16, 2021 at 10:23 pmJust made these and my kids could hardly wait for them to cool down to eat, they are SO good!!! Made with olive oil because I didn’t have avocado oil on hand, and not a fan of using vegetable oil. Will definitely be making these as a regular staple. Thanks for another winner Alex!!
Rachel K
March 14, 2021 at 10:48 pmGod bless Gogo! These are so good. I added chopped pecans and they were incredible. Definitely going to be my new party dessert go-to.
Sarah
March 14, 2021 at 8:43 pmSo good! Snuck a taste test spoonful right out of the oven…Yum!
Alexis
March 14, 2021 at 8:37 pmIf you don’t have a metal baking pan, just Pyrex, should the temperature or bake time be adjusted?
Alex
March 17, 2021 at 12:58 pmIt should still work just fine– just be sure to use parchment paper so it doesn’t stick.
Noreen
March 13, 2021 at 10:02 pmOmg these are amazing !however mine did not set 😞 edges were good but center in mush … I took them out at 30 minutes mark but should have trusted my gut and let it cook maybe 5-10 minutes more . Not sure what I did ?
Courtney
March 13, 2021 at 8:18 pmThese are incredible!!! Thank you for sharing this family recipe ☺️
Hannah
March 13, 2021 at 8:02 pmAlex, tell your MIL that these were an absolute hit! My foster daughter is obsessed with baking and this was such an easy recipe that she could do on her own. GoGos bars didn’t make it long in our house! Thanks!
Noreen
March 13, 2021 at 12:25 amUgh..
I just made these and mine did not set after baking 30 minutes 😞 the batter is quite wet in the middle but the edges area so yummy ! I think it needed 10 more minutes maybe ?
Suzanne
March 12, 2021 at 9:51 pmAllergic to eggs, could I use extra oil instead or maybe applesauce?
Alex
March 17, 2021 at 1:00 pmI haven’t yet tried it with these substitutes– but I think a ‘flax egg’ would work best.
J
March 12, 2021 at 3:55 pmcan i substitute something else for the avocado oil?
Alex
March 12, 2021 at 4:30 pmmy Mother-in-law uses vegetable oil.
DW
March 14, 2021 at 3:39 pmCan u start putting calories and other nutritional information w/ your recipes please?
Elle
March 12, 2021 at 4:13 amIs there any way to do this without a mixer?
Alex
March 12, 2021 at 1:14 pmYes, you can put those arm muscles to work and just stir the heck out of it! haha– the butter is a little more difficult to really combine, but totally doable.
Emily
March 20, 2021 at 8:24 pmSo good! I used a 365 GF cake mix from Whole Foods and tossed in an extra 1/3 C oats. Crossed my fingers, and it worked out great!
My 2 SILs and I are all preggo together and nibbled off the frozen stash of what was left 🙂 (not that it lasted long…)
Everyone has made another batch!
Love that this is a family recipe! <3
Alex
March 21, 2021 at 12:40 pmso fun!!! Glad you all loved it!
Lindsey
March 12, 2021 at 3:38 amThese look incredible! I don’t like my baked goods very sweet so I’m wondering what your thoughts are about leaving out the sugar altogether? Between the Cake mix and the chocolate I’d imagine they’re sweet enough for me but not sure if it changes the baking composition. Wish I could tolerate monk fruit or other alternative sweeteners 😣
Alex
March 12, 2021 at 1:11 pmI honestly haven’t tried it without the addition of the sugar.
Nichole Thorsky
March 15, 2021 at 3:26 pmJust made these yesterday, they are SO good, but honestly, I feel like they would be better without extra sugar added. They are a bit too sweet for me, so good in small doses though!!
Kelly
March 24, 2021 at 6:28 pmI actually just made these and accidentally left out the sugar! Still delicious!
Alex
March 28, 2021 at 11:22 pmglad they still turned out well for you!
Allyson Schaeffer
March 12, 2021 at 3:35 amThe sound amazing. So presumably your mother-in-law made these with yellow cake mix and brown sugar back in the day. Could I use both of those and maintain flavor or no?
Alex
March 12, 2021 at 1:12 pmyes, exactly!! You can definitely opt to make it that way, also!
Allyson Schaeffer
March 13, 2021 at 12:58 amThanks so much, Alex! STOKED to make these!
MV
March 12, 2021 at 1:56 amAny gluten free suggestions for the cake mix?
Alex
March 12, 2021 at 2:06 amI haven’t tried any GF cake mixes personally, but on IG some folks recommended King Arthur Brand!
Alex
March 12, 2021 at 12:21 pmSalted or unsalted butter!?
Alex
March 12, 2021 at 1:11 pmPreferably unsalted, but both works!! I usually use salted, only because that’s what I buy regularly and have on hand.
Nichole Thorsky
March 15, 2021 at 3:28 pmI made this yesterday and used Pamela’s GF vanilla cake mix, it came out great. I’m sure any would work. Next time I’d probably opt for duncan hines gf option.
Beverly
March 18, 2021 at 4:03 amAldi sells a good gf cake mix if you have that store in your area.
Sondra
March 12, 2021 at 12:50 amLooks yummy and simple… thank you for sharing. Can I use any yellow cake mix?
Alex
March 12, 2021 at 2:04 amYou can!! It does adjust the flavor a bit depending on the brand. I jsut don’t recommend using a grain-free mix.
Sondra
March 12, 2021 at 11:51 amThanks!!
Cameron
March 12, 2021 at 12:07 amCan you use any other cake mix?
Chelsea
March 11, 2021 at 11:58 pmHi!! If I want to make this tonight (and don’t have Miss Jones) can I use regular(not grain free) boxed cake mix??
Alex
March 12, 2021 at 2:04 amyes you can!
Cheryl Clift
March 12, 2021 at 3:50 amFreezing cookies, cookie bars, and brownies has always been our favorite way to eat what I make for the family and friends as well!
Kelley
March 11, 2021 at 10:58 pmCould you substitute ghee for the butter!!
Alex
March 12, 2021 at 2:05 amIt will change the flavor, but it should work
Katherine
March 11, 2021 at 10:38 pmHey quick question. Your videos say 20 min baking time but your recipe says 30. Is it 20 or 30? Thanks!
Alex
March 11, 2021 at 10:47 pmIt’s 30 mins!! sorry for the confusion from my stories!! ah!
Xio
March 12, 2021 at 3:46 pmHi 🙂
Can I use a regular hand mixer for this? I don’t have the big mixer you used
Alex
March 12, 2021 at 4:31 pmyes, should work just fine
Maddie
March 18, 2021 at 4:05 amI baked these in a 9×9 pan for about 45 mins and they turned out perfect!