Sunday, April 1, 2012

Chocolate-Oatmeal Almost Candy Bars

The other day, I mentioned that my blog had just become four years old. During those four years, I’ve visited lots of other blogs and seen lots of fabulous food. I’ve always enjoyed reading about the results of the different baking and cooking groups that show dishes from Dorie Greenspan’s books. I never got around to joining the groups since I knew I’d somehow manage to miss every deadline for posts, but every time I see a dish chosen by the groups, I can’t wait to try it. I think about that every time I open one of Dorie’s books. So, at last, I’ve baked the Chocolate-Oatmeal Almost Candy Bars from Baking: From My Home to Yours. Even though I’ve seen these bars on other blogs in the past, I didn’t quite realize what they're really like. These cookie bars are serious business. They’re crunchy, chewy, chocolaty, nutty, and delicious. Cutting these into small pieces is a good idea since they are filling, but I think they’re actually better than a candy bar. Dorie recommends serving them cold which keeps the layers firm, and I agree.

These bars are baked in a nine- by thirteen-inch baking pan, and the recipe makes a lot of cookies once they’re cut into small pieces. The bars can be frozen and thawed in the refrigerator. You start by making the oatmeal layer which becomes both the bottom surface and the crumble on top of the cookies. That’s made by creaming butter with brown sugar, then adding eggs and vanilla. Flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon are added next, and then oats and chopped peanuts are stirred into the dough. A couple of cups of dough are set aside, and the rest is pressed into the buttered baking pan. The chocolate layer was next, and that was made by melting chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk, butter, and salt in the top of a double-boiler. Once melted, vanilla, raisins, and peanuts were added. The chocolate mixture was poured over the oatmeal layer in the baking pan, and the remaining oatmeal dough was scattered on top. The bars baked for about 30 minutes, were cooled, and then refrigerated before cutting.

It’s delightful knowing I have a stash of these bars in the freezer. They’re there for me any time I need a candy bar or cookie fix. They work for both kinds of cravings. And, when they run out, I’ll have to move on to something else I've read so much about over the last few years.


29 comments:

  1. Happy 4 years of blogging! I love your blog! These look absolutely amazing. I will be pinning shortly.... :)

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  2. Definitely looks like candy to me. I'm dying for a piece right now.

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  3. You know I am getting those late night hunger pranks and trust me this candy bar will make me so HAPPY!!!
    Happy 4th year of blogging my friend, trust me I adore ur blog....

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  4. Oh, those look incredible! What a wonderful treat.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  5. I'm loving those diverse layers! I don't think it could help but please a crowd :D

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  6. How tempting they look..Those layers make them look more interesting and delicious! :)

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  7. I was too late to blogging to join the group, but I enjoyed watching what the others made and trying some of the recipes along with them. I made these bars and, while they were a too rich to be one of my favorites, they were a hit with the friends I baked them for.

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  8. Congrats on 4 years, Lisa!
    Aside from Louise's picnic game, the game changers is the first group I've joined. I wasn't sure I'd make it to the end as it's a lot of research and having to post on Fridays changed the way I post. But it's been worth it to learn about all these chefs and their dishes. We're nearly at the end of the 50 now. Only a a couple months to go.

    These cookies look delicious. I'll add them to my cookie list. Dorie's recipes are always perfect.

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  9. You always make me so hungry. Congrats Lisa. Your blog is nearly a kindergartener!

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  10. I missed it! A very happy 4th birthday to this beautiful blog. It has been a continuing source of inspiration to me over the years. You've always been a favorite of mine so congrats to you Lisa!

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  11. Wow - this recipe looks amazing! I'm excited to give it a try. ;-)

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  12. These bars are insanely delicious looking and sounding - how could you not eat the netire pan :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  13. they look so delicious and I like that they can be frozen and thawed when needed. happy bloggoversary :)

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  14. These are such a great treat for your blog's fourth anniversary! They look delicious and I would gladly try one or maybe two or maybe more if you offered them to me! lol

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  15. Wow, these look so tempting and I am sure these will not make it for many days in our house :)

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  16. congrats on the blog anniversary! the crumbly topping on those bars looks so good!

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  17. MAJOR congrats! Your blog is one of my favorites to visit because the food is always so original and delicious! Would you believe I FINALLY got this cookbook just this past week? It's about time. And about time I made these! They look so addictive.

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  18. it usually takes me a few years to get around to making the things about which the folks in those groups rave, so good for you! these look yummy.

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  19. Congrats Lisa on your 4 year blogoverary. What an achievement! I love the look of these bars. The layering is great and they cut so beautifully. xx

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  20. How have I missed these bars in that book? They sound right up my alley. I'm always amazed by those baking groups as well- I tried to get on board with Baked Sunday Mornings but fell off the wagon. I can never meet the deadlines either. Better just to admire their efforts and then cherry pick the best recipes. Well done!

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  21. What a fantastic cookie! The chocolate lovers at my house would be extremely happy with a plate of these scrumptious cookies. Dorie Greensan's recipes never fail to delight.

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  22. I cannot believe its been 4 years, my how time flies.

    What a recipe to share with us on such an auspicious occasion. These look simply amazing, and your talking chocolate and nuts, a true weak spot for me.

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  23. These look so good Lisa, I would so love to make some of the beautiful things that you make but I have not got 1 more space for another cook book. Please put a recipe in soon so I can make it.

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  24. These candy bars look delicious!
    I just love chocolate and peanuts together

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  25. The chocolate lovers at my house are going to be head over heels for this sumptuous cookie! (Can't wait to see if they say it's like a candy bar.) Your opening photo is stellar!

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