A Sweet Spin on Oats Perfection: Gooey Oatmeal Bars
Updated: Mar 28, 2022
Let me preface this post by discussing how good this recipe is. I mean good good. I mean you are going to want to eat the crumbs from the pan good.
Ingredients:
Non-stick cooking spray
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, or table salt
1/3 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
Filling:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, or table salt
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup finely shredded coconut, sweetened
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips,
Directions:
Prepare your pan: Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking tray (a quarter sheet pan or cake pan is fine) with parchment paper (if using a cake pan, hang the parchment over the sides so the bars are easier to remove). Lightly coat the sides with nonstick spray.
Make the crust: Combine the flour, salt and sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Cut the butter into chunks, and add it to the bowl, then run the machine until the mixture forms large clumps?that's right, just keep running it; it might take another 30 seconds for it to come together, but it will. Transfer the dough clumps to the prepared baking pan and press them evenly across the bottom and 1/4 inch up the sides. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until very pale golden.
Meanwhile, prepare the filling: Melt your butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Continue to cook the butter, stirring frequently, until golden brown bits form at the bottom, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugars and salt. Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes, then whisk in the eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla, and stir in the oats, coconut, and chocolate, fruit, and/or candy.
Pour over the parbaked crust, spreading evenly.
Bake the bars: Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the top is firm and golden and the bars are set or, at most, barely jiggle if shimmied. The bars are much easier to cut cleanly from the fridge, but they are gooiest when warm. Dust with powdered sugar
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