As the holidays begin to set in (Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas), I am starting to look for a few new cookies and bars for my 12 Days of Cookies. I was thumbing through the last of my big index cards when I came across my fudgy oatmeal bars. I haven't made these in years, to the point that none of my kids could ever remember eating them.
The bars are chewy and crunchy with a strip of deliciously nutty fudge in the middle. (If that description doesn't tempt you to make these nothing will.) The bonus to these fudgy oatmeal bars is the word fudge. If you let the chocolate mixture cool and harden, you will have a great batch of fudge. I like the fudge made with marshmallow fluff the best, but for something you can put together quickly, this recipe works.
Making the bars are a little more time consuming since you have to make the chocolate filling and press out the crust, but they are worth every moment for the final results. Next to chocolate, in my world of sweets, oatmeal is probably my second favorite ingredient. It comes from my love of my grandmother's chocolate chip and raisin oatmeal cookies, Nannie's Oatmeal Cookies.
The long weekend is coming and I am getting ready to put together a Checklist for a Tailgate Party and these will definitely be included. Start your cookie test runs so that you can chose the favorites you want to share around the holidays!
Ingredients for the bars:
2 cups of brown sugar
1 cup of butter or margarine
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla
2-1/2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
3 cups of regular (not instant) oatmeal
Ingredients for the chocolate filling:
2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons of butter or margarine
1 cup of chopped nuts (we like walnuts)
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1/2 teaspoon of salt
Preparation:
Start with the ingredients for the chocolate filling: Melt the chocolate, sweetened condensed milk and butter in a double boiler. Once the ingredients are melted and smooth, remove from heat. Stir in remaining ingredients of vanilla, salt and walnuts. Put aside to cool slightly.
Cream butter and brown sugar for the bars, Add eggs one at a time, blending well with each egg. Add the vanilla. Add the flour, soda and salt. Stir until blended and smooth. Add oatmeal and mix until oatmeal is well coated.
Grease a 11-12 x 16-1/4 cookie sheet. Press 1/2 to 2/3 of the oatmeal mixture into the bottom of the cookie sheet to create a bottom crust. Spread the chocolate mixture over oatmeal layer. With the remaining oatmeal, break it into tiny pieces (pea size) and sprinkle it over the chocolate mixture.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes. The bars are done when the crumb topping is golden brown. Remove from oven and cool for 1 hour. This will allow the chocolate to set. Cut into bars and enjoy!
