ICED CINNAMON OATMEAL COOKIE BARS

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ICED CINNAMON OATMEAL COOKIE BARS
Introduction
These iced oatmeal bars are thick, chewy, warmly spiced, and topped with a thin glaze that dries into a beautiful crackled finish exactly like the one in your photo. They slice beautifully and keep extremely well, making them ideal for snacks, lunch boxes, holiday trays, or quick desserts. The bars combine brown sugar, oats, and butter for a nostalgic cookie texture while the glaze adds sweetness and shine.

Ingredients
For the oatmeal cookie bars:
1 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins or chopped nuts (optional)

For the crackle glaze:
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons melted butter
2–3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

Instructions
Prepare the pan

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy lifting.
  3. Lightly grease the parchment.

Make the cookie base

  1. In a large bowl whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth and glossy.
  2. Add the eggs one at a time. Whisk well after each addition.
  3. Add the vanilla extract and mix again.
  4. In another bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir to blend.
  5. Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients and fold gently just until combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Add the rolled oats and raisins or nuts if using. Stir until evenly distributed.
  7. Spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Smooth the top with a spatula.

Bake

  1. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the surface is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
  2. Do not overbake. The bars continue to set as they cool.
  3. Cool completely in the pan.

Prepare the glaze

  1. In a medium bowl whisk the powdered sugar, melted butter, milk, vanilla, and salt.
  2. Start with 2 tablespoons of milk and add more as needed until you reach a thick but pourable consistency.

Glaze the bars

  1. Pour the glaze over the completely cooled bars.
  2. Spread evenly to cover the entire surface.
  3. Allow the glaze to set for 30–45 minutes until it forms a firm, crackly top.
  4. Once the glaze is set, lift the entire slab out of the pan using the parchment and transfer to a cutting board.
  5. Slice into rectangles or squares.

Methods
This recipe uses melted butter for maximum chewiness and ease of mixing. The bars bake as one sheet to create uniform texture and moisture throughout. The glaze is poured while the bars are fully cooled so it sets into a thin shell that cracks beautifully when cut.

History
Iced oatmeal cookies have existed since the early 1900s, originating from simple farmhouse baking where oats and brown sugar were pantry staples. Turning those cookies into bars became popular in the 1970s when home bakers began favoring “sheet pan desserts” for speed and large-batch convenience. These iced oatmeal bars are a modern version that preserves the classic flavor but adds a soft, chewy interior and glossy glaze.

Benefits
Easy to make in one bowl
Feeds a crowd
Keeps well for a week
Freezer friendly
Perfect for holiday trays, lunch boxes, or after-school snacks
Uses simple, inexpensive pantry ingredients

Conclusion
These Iced Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookie Bars deliver everything: soft texture, warm spice, and that irresistible bakery-style crackled glaze. They slice perfectly, taste even better the next day, and work for any occasion. If you want a simple dessert that looks impressive and tastes nostalgic, this is the recipe.

If you want a chocolate version, lemon version, or pumpkin spice version, tell me and I’ll make it.

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