Our homeschool graduation Mass and ceremony were last night. We always have a potluck gathering afterwards and these fudge nut bars are one of our favorite desserts to bring. They're easy to make and they always disappear quickly. Even if you don't have a big event to go to, these bars are an easy to make dessert that your family will enjoy.
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What, no video?
Okay, usually I've been doing videos of my recipes, but here's the deal. We had a busy day yesterday and one of the things on my list was to go out and do my jog-but-mostly-walk time. The sky was blue and the sun was warm, so by the time I got back to make this dessert, I looked like a hot mess. Thus, pride won out and I did this recipe in pictures instead!
Anyhow, here's the recipe. Notice that it calls for nuts but no one here really likes nuts in their bars so we always leave them out. Feel free to add them in if you like them.
Fudge Nut Bars
1 C plus 2 Tbl butter
2 C brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 C flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
1 12 oz pkg semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 C sweetened condensed milk
1 C nuts, chopped (optional)
In a large mixer bowl, combine 1 cup butter and brown sugar. Mix until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add 1 tsp vanilla.
Combine flour, baking soda and 1 tsp salt. Mix into creamed mixture. Mix in oats. Spread about 2/3 of oat mixture in bottom of 9x13 baking pan. Set aside.
Combine chocolate chips, milk, 2 Tbl butter and 1/2 tsp salt in a saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring until mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Add nuts and remaining vanilla.
Spread over layer in pan. Dot with remaining oat mixture, spreading as evenly as possible. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool and cut into bars.
Some Important Notes
This step is the trickiest. You have to judge the amounts and put 2/3 of the mixture in the bottom of the pan and reserve 1/3 to crumble on the top.
In this instance, I had more for the top than I needed. Sometimes it just works out that way but it will still be okay.
This is the best step because you get to layer on all of this chocolatey goodness and then lick the pan to clean up what just happens to be left over. Not that I leave any left over on purpose.
Here's where the artistry comes in. You can now take the 1/3 of the oatmeal mixture that is left and place it as artistically as you would like over the chocolatey goodness.
In retrospect, I should have placed these pieces to form "2019". Bummer. Maybe next graduation.
Next time you have a potluck event to go to, give these fudge nut bars a try. I think you will find them fun to make and good to eat. Get in line quick, though, because they'll go quickly.