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    Home Β» Recipes Β» Desserts

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    Colorful and Easy Coconut Oatmeal Jelly Bean Cookie Bars

    Published: Mar 3, 2016 Β· Modified: Mar 28, 2024 by Audrey Β· This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Coconut Oatmeal Jelly Bean Cookies use up those extra jelly beans with this delicious crunchy cookie bar loaded with oats and unsweetened coconut.

    Turn leftover jelly beans into a delicious cookie with these easy and colorful Coconut Oatmeal Jelly Bean Cookie Bars.

    stack of oatmeal coconut cookie bars with jelly beans

    I love jelly beans, but the Easter Bunny has been known to bring too many on occasion. And then they sit in the cupboard until the melt together then harden into a multi-hued gelatinous blob.

    Does that happen in your house, too?

    This jelly bean cookie recipe is derived from one by TV chef Sara Moulton. The key difference is she rolls them into 36 balls and adds 3 jelly beans on top of each one.

    Sorry, Sara, I don't have time or energy to make 36 equal balls and count out 108 jelly beans.

    I went with the dump, mix and spread bar cookie method.

    What kind of jelly Beans should I use?

    Use whatever kind you like best.

    My favorite jelly beans are Starburst originals (not a sponsor). Spice, tropical, coffee or even sour flavors would work just as well.

    But, I don't recommend mixing different types of jelly beans unless you like the flavor combination.

    My husband grew up with sweet and spice jelly beans dumped together in his Easter basket as a child and has never gotten over the trauma.

    Your mouth is all set to bite into some sweet cherry and instead it is cinnamon. Both types of jelly beans are great on their own, but not together for my house.

    stack of oatmeal coconut cookie bars with jelly beans

    Recipe

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Ingredients
     

    • Β½ cup butter
    • Β½ cup brown sugar
    • Β½ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
    • 1 cup all purpose flour
    • ΒΎ teaspoons baking powder
    • Β½ teaspoon baking soda
    • Β½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 Β½ cup old fashioned oats (or quick cooking rolled oats)
    • 1 ΒΌ cup unsweetened coconut
    • ΒΎ cups jelly beans (more or less)

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350℉. Grease a 13 x 9 pan, or line with parchment paper.
    • In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes.
    • Beat in egg and vanilla.
    • In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to butter mixture and beat until combined.
    • Stir in oats, coconut and jelly beans.
    • Press into pan using wet hands (or a spoon if you are a neatnik).
    • Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Let sit for a few minutes after removing from the oven, then cut and remove from pan to a cooling rack.

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    Until next time, happy eating.
    ~Audrey

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Joanne/WineLady Cooks

      March 03, 2016 at 6:41 am

      This is the perfect spring bar cookie. I never know what to do with all those jelly beans, I'll definitely give this a try which I know my grandsons will just luv. Pinning/sharing.

      Reply
      • Audrey

        March 03, 2016 at 8:57 am

        Especially when the kids pick out all the "good ones" ha ha!

    2. Cindys Recipes and Writings

      March 03, 2016 at 8:38 am

      So cute and colorful!

      Reply
      • Audrey

        March 03, 2016 at 8:56 am

        Thanks, Cindy!

    3. Tina

      March 03, 2016 at 10:09 am

      What a fun cookie! I have to know, what is the texture like? Do the jelly beans just melt and leave behind what?? lol

      Reply
      • Audrey

        March 03, 2016 at 3:55 pm

        They only partially melt, leaving chewy flavorful bits in each bite.

    4. Kris ~Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies

      March 03, 2016 at 2:51 pm

      What a great idea! I never thought of using jelly beans in a cookie before. I am no longer fearing the leftover jelly beans πŸ™‚

      Reply
      • Audrey

        March 03, 2016 at 3:55 pm

        Thanks, Kris. I was pleased with how they came out.

    5. Cynthia L

      March 03, 2016 at 6:04 pm

      I would have never thought to add jelly beans to cookie dough. What great idea. I am off to buy jelly beans to try these. Thanks for being a part of the Fill The Cookie Jar group.

      Reply
      • Audrey

        March 07, 2016 at 6:20 pm

        I hope you and Big like them.

    6. Susanf - ofeverymoment

      March 05, 2016 at 12:36 pm

      I don't really love eating a handful of jelly beans, but I think I might like them in these. As you said, a good way to use them up! I Yummed this.

      Reply
      • Audrey

        March 07, 2016 at 6:16 pm

        It depends on the jelly beans, certain brands I can eat a whole bag. But not the cheap ones!

    7. Julie Roshman

      November 01, 2017 at 1:24 pm

      Yum, so good! One suggestion, I didn't realize that these were bars. I would call them cookie bars. Other than that, 5 stars!

      *****

      Reply
      • Audrey

        November 02, 2017 at 8:45 am

        Cookies is better SEO than cookie bars, ha ha! I am glad you liked them.

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    audrey humaciu in kitchen

    Welcome, I'm Audrey, an avid "maker" that believes home made is better.

    Whether it's cooking, crafting, gardening, home dΓ©cor, even blog design, I love getting my hands dirty and trying new things... even if I make a mess in the process.

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