Oatmeal Fudge Bars

Do you ever feel like you could use an extra day just to recuperate from the weekend?  This feels like one of those days. We were on the go for the large part of our weekend. Our girls all competed in a city bowling tournament that took place both Saturday and Sunday. They all did wonderful, especially our oldest. She bowled her first 500 series! It was a great milestone to witness her reach.

I did manage to get the house all cleaned up before we took off Saturday, with the help of the whole family. It was nice to come home yesterday to a fairly clean house, makes for a nice Sunday evening I tell ya.

I made these bars the previous weekend for us to enjoy throughout the week. I'd be lying if I told you they were healthy, but I like to think they are a tad more healthy than your typical bar. With a oat crust and a rich fudgy, brownie-like filling; they leave you feeling satisfied without being too sweet.

I honestly wasn't sure what the family would think of them, but each time I came back to the pan for just a small piece, more and more disappeared. The little ones kept asking for a piece here and there. That right there tells me it's a keeper.


Oatmeal Fudge Bars

Ingredients:
for the crust:
1 cup flour
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup coconut oil {melted}
2 tbsp melted butter

Filling:
3/4 cup flour
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
3 tbsp melted butter
3 tbsp coconut oil {melted}
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 cup chocolate chips


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Light grease a 11x8-inch baking pan and set aside.

To make crust, combine flour, oats, brown sugar and baking soda in a bowl. Add in oil and butter, mix together using a fork until mixture is crumbly. Remove 3/4 cup of mixture and set aside. Press the remaining dough into the bottom of prepared pan. Bake for 12 minutes and remove from oven to cool slightly.

To make filling, combine flour, sugar, cocoa, brown sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Add in milk, butter, oil, vanilla and eggs. Mix together well. Fold in chocolate chips.

Spread chocolate batter over oat crust. Sprinkle with the reserved oat mixture. Bake for 33-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Let pan cool before cutting into bars.