Fudge Oatmeal Bars

Simply Homemade Fudge Oatmeal Bars

I was on a freezer food roll last week and after making several pans of veggie lasagna roll-ups and french bread, I decided I needed to make something sweet for my family. I'm pretty sure they have some kind of alert system when they know I am baking because suddenly I have many guests! This a perfect little recipe for an occasional treat when you want rich, chocolate and absolutely deliciousness! They only take a few minutes to put together and they will disappear quickly. I cut mine in small squares for 16-20 servings.

Ingredients for Batter:

1/2 c melted butter, cooled to room temperature

1 egg, whisked

1 c brown sugar, packed

1 T vanilla extract

1 1/2 c rolled oats (not quick-cooked)

1 c flour

pinch salt

Ingredients for Fudge Filling

1 c chocolate chips (milk chocolate or semi-sweet)

1/2 can of sweetened condensed milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Use an 8x8 or 9x9 square pan lined with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk the butter, egg and vanilla together then add the brown sugar. I use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir. Don't use a mixer or you will over mix the batter (and this would not be a good thing). Add the oats, flour and salt and mix until everything is combined. Press about 3/4 of the batter into the baking pan. Melt the chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk together. If you use the microwave, it'll only take about 1 minute. (I melted mine in a glass bowl over a pan of hot water on the stove. I only do this because I have had many unfortunate incidents with my chips overheating in the microwave and turning into chocolate crumbles). Stir the chips and milk together after melting and pour the mixture over the dough in the pan. (This filling is similar to my fudge recipe so a little tip here that you will need to move fast and don't over stir or your fudge filling will start to set before you pour it over the dough). Using the rest of the oatmeal batter, drop it in small pieces over the top of the fudge mixture. You can press it together over the top if you want. You have some spaces on the top and that's fine. The dough will be very sticky. It should look similar to this once you have the top layer over the fudge.

Simply Homemade fudge oatmeal bars ready for the oven!

Bake 25-30 minutes in a preheated 350F oven. When they are done the top should be set (not too shiny) and a light tan color. Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack. You may add some chocolate chips on the top at this point. Cool at least an hour before you start cut the bars into squares. Enjoy and be blessed!

Love and peace,

~ Simply Tammi

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