Turn leftover jelly beans into a delicious cookie with these easy and colorful Coconut Oatmeal Jelly Bean Cookie Bars.
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.
Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cup old fashioned oats (or quick cooking rolled oats)
- 1 ¼ cup unsweetened coconut
- ¾ 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.
More Bar Cookie Recipes
Until next time, happy eating.
~Audrey
Joanne/WineLady Cooks
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.
Audrey
Especially when the kids pick out all the "good ones" ha ha!
Cindys Recipes and Writings
So cute and colorful!
Audrey
Thanks, Cindy!
Tina
What a fun cookie! I have to know, what is the texture like? Do the jelly beans just melt and leave behind what?? lol
Audrey
They only partially melt, leaving chewy flavorful bits in each bite.
Kris ~Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies
What a great idea! I never thought of using jelly beans in a cookie before. I am no longer fearing the leftover jelly beans 🙂
Audrey
Thanks, Kris. I was pleased with how they came out.
Cynthia L
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.
Audrey
I hope you and Big like them.
Susanf - ofeverymoment
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.
Audrey
It depends on the jelly beans, certain brands I can eat a whole bag. But not the cheap ones!
Julie Roshman
Yum, so good! One suggestion, I didn't realize that these were bars. I would call them cookie bars. Other than that, 5 stars!
*****
Audrey
Cookies is better SEO than cookie bars, ha ha! I am glad you liked them.