Irresistible Oatmeal Fudge Bars With M&M's % Bless this Mess

Name: Oatmeal Fudge Bars With M&M's
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups rolled oats; 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour; 1 cup packed brown sugar; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 cup + 2 tablespoons salted butter (divided, at room temperature); 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk; 1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips (11.5-ounce); 1 cup plain M&M’s

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This is the ultimate Oatmeal Fudge Bars recipe with a crispy oat crust, rich chocolate fudge center, and colorful M&M topping. Easy to make and perfect for any occasion!

Three chocolate fudge bars with a crumbly topping and colorful candy-coated chocolates are stacked on parchment paper, with more bars and candies blurred in the background.

🍪 You probably have most of these ingredients in your pantry right now. With basic staples like oats, flour, brown sugar, and chocolate chips, you can create an impressive dessert that tastes like it came from a bakery!

My 2 Best Tips For Making Oatmeal Fudge Bars
Oatmeal Fudge Bars With M&M’s Recipe
How To Make Oatmeal Fudge Bars With M&M’s
Recipe FAQs
More Scrumptious Cookie Recipes To Try

My 2 Best Tips For Making Oatmeal Fudge Bars

Press the Crust Firmly: Take time to really press that bottom oat layer firmly and evenly into the pan. Use the bottom of a measuring cup or your hands to create a solid foundation. A well-compressed crust won’t crumble when you cut the bars.

Stir the Fudge Constantly: When melting the chocolate mixture, keep stirring constantly over medium heat to prevent burning. The mixture should be smooth and glossy. If it seems too thick, add an extra tablespoon of butter.

🩷 Melissa

These bars deliver the best of both worlds with a crispy, buttery oat crust that provides the perfect contrast to the smooth, rich fudge layer. The textural variety keeps every bite interesting and satisfying.

Whether you’re bringing them to a potluck, school event, or family gathering, these colorful bars disappear fast.

The addition of M&Ms makes them especially appealing to kids and adds a fun pop of color!

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Oatmeal Fudge Bars With M&M’s

By: Melissa Griffiths

This is the ultimate Oatmeal Fudge Bars recipe with a crispy oat crust, rich chocolate fudge center, and colorful M&M topping. Easy to make and perfect for any occasion!

Prep: 20

Cook: 30

Total: 50

Servings: servings

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Ingredients

▢ 1 ½ cups rolled oats
▢ 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
▢ 1 cup packed brown sugar
▢ 1 teaspoon salt
▢ 1 cup + 2 tablespoons salted butter, divided, at room temperature
▢ 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
▢ 1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips, 11.5-ounce
▢ 1 cup plain M&M’s

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, salt, and 1 cup of the butter. Use a fork, pastry blender, your hands, or a wooden spoon to mix until crumbly.
Reserve 1 cup of the oat mixture for topping. Press the remaining oat mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan using your hands or the bottom of a measuring cup.
In a medium saucepan, combine the sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, and remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until the chocolate chips are fully melted and smooth.
Pour the chocolate mixture evenly over the oat crust in the pan. Sprinkle the reserved oat mixture and M&M’s over the top, then gently press down.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden.
Cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, lift out using the parchment paper and cut into bars.

Notes

Recipe Variations:

You can use milk chocolate chips if that’s what you have on hand, though the bars will be much sweeter than with semi-sweet chocolate.
You can use seasonal M&M candies for a festive look!
This recipe works well with 1:1 gluten free baking flour if you are looking for a gluten free treat.
You can use instant, quick, rolled, or whatever oats you like or have on hand.

Storing: Store these bars covered in the refrigerator due to the rich fudge layer. They can be served chilled or brought to room temperature. For longer storage, wrap individual bars and freeze for up to 3 months.

Make Ahead: These bars are actually better when made ahead and stored in the refrigerator. The fudge layer sets perfectly, making them easier to cut into clean squares. They’ll keep fresh in the fridge for up to a week and are great to make ahead and take to a party or a picnic!

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar, Calories: 204kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 17mg, Sodium: 126mg, Potassium: 89mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 15g, Vitamin A: 197IU, Vitamin C: 0.04mg, Calcium: 24mg, Iron: 1mg

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How To Make Oatmeal Fudge Bars With M&M’s

A clear glass bowl containing rolled oats, brown sugar, and two sticks of butter on a white surface.

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, salt, and 1 cup of the butter.

A glass bowl filled with coarse, crumbly dough sits on a light-colored, textured surface.

Step 2: Use a fork, pastry blender, your hands, or a wooden spoon to mix until crumbly.

A rectangular oat crumble bar baked in a blue and white speckled baking dish lined with parchment paper, next to a white bowl of oat mixture on a light-colored surface.

Step 3: Reserve 1 cup of the oat mixture for topping. Press the remaining oat mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan using your hands or the bottom of a measuring cup.

A baking dish lined with parchment paper holds a dessert topped with glossy, swirled chocolate. The dish is blue and white speckled. Next to it is a bowl of crumbled ingredients.

Step 4: In a medium saucepan, combine the sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, and remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until the chocolate chips are fully melted and smooth. Pour the chocolate mixture evenly over the oat crust in the pan.

A rectangular blue and white speckled baking dish filled with a crumbly dessert topped with colorful candy-coated chocolates, sitting on a light-colored surface.

Step 5: Sprinkle the reserved oat mixture and M&M’s over the top, then gently press down.

A tray of chocolate oat bars topped with colorful candy-coated chocolates, partially sliced on parchment paper with a large knife and a blue plaid cloth nearby.

Step 6: Bake for 30 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden. Cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, lift out using the parchment paper and cut into bars.

Recipe FAQs

Can I substitute different types of oats?

You can use instant, quick-cooking, or old-fashioned rolled oats. Each will give a slightly different texture, but all work well. Old-fashioned oats provide the most texture, while quick oats create a more uniform base.

Can I make these gluten-free?

Yes! Simply substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend. The texture and taste will be virtually identical to the original recipe.

What’s the best way to cut clean bars?

The key is patience – let the bars cool completely in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between cuts. For even cleaner cuts, you can run the knife under warm water and dry it before each slice.