Description
Chewy oat bars with a rich, decadent chocolate fudge layer. An easy, comforting dessert perfect for busy families and dessert lovers.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups packed light brown sugar
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prep the Oat Base: In a large bowl, cream together ½ cup butter and 1 cup brown sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the rolled oats and all-purpose flour until the mixture is crumbly. Press about two-thirds of this delicious mixture evenly into a greased 9×13 inch baking pan.
- Bake the Base: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes until the edges are lightly golden.
- Make the Fudge Layer: While the oat base bakes, in a medium saucepan, melt the remaining ½ cup butter over medium heat. Stir in the sweetened condensed milk, ½ cup brown sugar, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract. Bring this mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes until the fudge mixture visibly thickens.
- Assemble the Bars: Carefully pour the warm, rich fudge mixture evenly over the partially baked oat base in your pan. Then, crumble the remaining oat mixture over the fudge layer, creating a delightful top crust.
- Final Bake: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the top oat crumble is lightly browned and the fudge layer is set — the edges should be bubbly and the center firm to the touch.
- Cool Completely: Let the bars cool entirely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting them into squares.
Notes
- Faster Method: For a super speedy baking experience, have all your ingredients pre-measured before you even start mixing. This small convenience makes a big difference on busy days.
- Healthier Twist: To make these slightly lighter, reduce the brown sugar by ¼ cup in both the oat base and the fudge layers. Using a high-quality dark chocolate cocoa powder can also add a richer flavor with less sugar, contributing to a more balanced treat.
- Troubleshooting Common Mistakes:
- Fudge not setting: If your fudge layer seems too soft, cook it a bit longer during Step 3, ensuring it thickens properly to a spoon-coating consistency.
- Bars crumbling: The most common culprit is cutting them too soon! Ensure they are cooled completely before attempting to cut. Cold bars hold their shape much better.
- Base too hard: Avoid overbaking the initial oat base. It should be just lightly golden, not deeply browned, to remain tender.
- Nutritional Data Note: Nutritional data is an estimate as it was not provided in the original recipe article.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 42 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 0
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 0g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Oat Fudge Bar