Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter Bars

Similar in consistency and goodness to Fudge Nut Bars.  We tried these for the first time this year with the intention of adding them to the Christmas goodie plates.  They never made it to the goodie plate, only to our tummies.

2 1/4 c. quick oats
1 1/4 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 c. butter, softened

1 fourteen-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 c. crunchy peanut butter (could use creamy and add 1/2 c. chopped salted peanuts)
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. chocolate chips

1.  Preheat oven to 350.  Grease the bottom and sides of a 9X13" baking dish. 
2.  Beat together the oats, brown sugar, flour, baking soda and butter.  Reserve 2 cups and press the remaining crust evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
3.  Combine the sweetened condensed milk, peanut butter and vanilla until blended (I warmed my peanut butter in the microwave for about 20 seconds to make it easier to mix).  Pour over the base crust.  Sprinkle with the chocolate chips and chopped nuts if using.  Crumble the remaining crust mixture evenly over chips. 
4.  Bake for 25-30.  Center will not be set.  Cool completely.

Fudge Nut Bars

A soft oatmeal cookie base and top with a layer of delicious fudge running through the middle.  This is my mother-in-law's recipe.  A favorite on our Christmas goodie plates. they are especially good the day they are made.

6 oz. chocolate chips

1 fourteen ounce can sweetened condensed milk

1 Tbsp butter

¼ tsp salt

½ cup chopped nuts

1 tsp vanilla

1 c. butter, softened

2 cups firmly packed brown sugar 

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

2 ½ cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

3 c. quick cooking rolled oats

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees; grease the bottom and sides of a 9x13" pan.

2.  In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, combine the chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk and 1 Tbsp. butter; heat and stir until the chocolate is melted.  Remove from the heat and add the nuts and vanilla.

3.  Cream together the 1 c. butter and brown sugar.  Add the eggs and vanilla.  In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, salt and oats.  Stir the dry ingredients into the sugar/butter mixture.

4.  Press slightly more than 1/2 of the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan.  Spread the fudge filling over crust and drop the remaining dough evenly over the chocolate.  Bake for 25 minutes.  Cool completely then cut into squares.