Cookies

July 25, 2024

Browned Butter Oatmeal Trail Mix Cookie Bars

These Browned Butter Oatmeal Trail Mix Cookie Bars combine two of my favorite snacks - oatmeal cookies and trail mix - into one chewy combination! They have the classic trail mix combo: peanuts, raisins, and chocolate candies.

I love a basic trail mix of salted peanuts, raisins, and chocolate candies. And I have to be sure that I get some of each ingredient in every bite - it’s all about that ratio. I also love a good browned butter cookie, and when they’re made into bars? Even better! That means less time scooping cookies and swapping trays in an out of the oven. 

It’s become tradition for me to share a new cookie recipe on the blog for my birthday each year, so say hello to this year’s birthday cookie, Browned Butter Oatmeal Trail Mix Cookie Bars! You can find previous years here: 2023’s Strawberry Almond Cookies, 2022’s Matcha Sprinkle Snickerdoodles, and 2021’s Golden Spiced Snickerdoodles. Cookies carry many fond memories for me, and they’re my favorite thing to bake. 

If you really want the true Kira experience, enjoy one (or two!) of these cookies after lunch with a big, juicy sliced apple. Happy birthday to me!

Ingredients assembled for Browned Butter Oatmeal Trail Mix Cookie Bars
Assemble your ingredients.

Stages of mixing up the cookie dough
Start by browning the butter, and then letting it cool for 10-15 minutes before mixing up the dough. First combine the wet, then the dry, then add the trail mix ingredients.

Stages of the cookies baked in a rectangle pan
Transfer the dough to a lightly greased (or parchment lined) 9x13-inch pan. Bake until golden brown and set in the center. As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, sprinkle them with coarse flaky salt.

Baked Browned Butter Oatmeal Trail Mix Cookie Bars cooling in the pan
Allow the cookies to cool completely before cutting into bars.

Squares of Browned Butter Oatmeal Trail Mix Cookie Bars stacked on top of each other with parchment in between each
I like to cut the whole pan up into bars before storing, for quick and easy access to these cookies!

A cookie with a bite out of it and a small glass bottle filled with milk and a striped turquoise straw
Enjoy these Browned Butter Oatmeal Trail Mix Cookie Bars with a glass of cold milk!

Browned Butter Oatmeal Trail Mix Cookie Bars

These Browned Butter Oatmeal Trail Mix Cookie Bars combine two of my favorite snacks - oatmeal cookies and trail mix - into one chewy combination! They have the classic trail mix combo: peanuts, raisins, and chocolate candies.

Author:

Kira Freed - The Joyful Plateful

Prep:

20

min

cook:

25

min

total:

45

min

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter

1 cup light brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

2 cups old-fashioned, rolled oats

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

2/3 cup raisins

2/3 cup roasted peanuts

2/3 cup candy-coated chocolate pieces

1 tsp. coarse/flaky sea salt

Instructions

  1. Start by browning the butter. In a medium skillet over medium heat, place the butter. Let it melt completely and begin browning. It will pop and sizzle as the water from the butter evaporates and the solids begin to brown. Leave it mostly undisturbed, except to swirl the pan once or twice. The butter is browned when it smells very toasted and the popping noise has almost subsided. Keep a close eye on this process so that you don’t burn it! Once it’s done, remove it from the heat and set aside to cool for about 10-15 minutes. 
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking pan, and set aside. 
  3. To a large mixing bowl, add the cooled browned butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla extra. Stir until well-combined. 
  4. To the mixing bowl, add the oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Stir until the dry ingredients are just incorporated. 
  5. To the dough mixture, add the raisins, peanuts, and candy-coated chocolate pieces. Fold in gently until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
  6. Transfer the cookie dough to the prepared 9x13-inch pan. Press it into the pan in an even layer.
  7. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-28 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle with the coarse sea salt. 
  8. Let the cookie bars cool completely in the pan before cutting. 
  9. Store cut cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
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