Chocolate Oatmeal Chews

These are my go-to squares when I am in a hurry or doing a lot of baking and need something quick for the freezer. They are so quick to whip up, taste delicious, freeze well, but never last long around this house. Hope your family enjoys them as much as we do.

 

Chocolate Oatmeal Chews

3/4 c. margarine
1 c. brown sugar
1 1/4 c. flour
1 1/2 c. oatmeal
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
4 c. mini marshmallows
1 c. chocolate chips

Cream margarine and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. Combine flour, oatmeal, baking soda and salt, add to creamed mixture and mix well. Set aside about 1 cup of crumb mixture for the topping and press the rest into a greased 9x13. Sprinkle marshmallows and chocolate chips over the base and then sprinkle that with the reserved crumb mixture. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Peanut Butter Truffle Brownies

I made these for our Mother's Day BBQ and there are so good (and rich ;)). My husband thought they tasted like Reese Pieces, and needless to say they were all gone within 24 hours!

 

Peanut Butter Truffle Brownies

Brownies:
1 c. butter, melted
2 c. sugar
3 eggs
3 tsp. vanilla
2/3 c. cocoa powder
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder

Peanut Butter Filling:
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. creamy peanut butter
2 c. icing sugar
2-3 tsp. milk

Ganache Topping:
1/4 c. creamy peanut butter
2 c. semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 c. butter
2 Tbsp. heavy whipping cream

Add the sugar to the melted butter and beat in the eggs and vanilla. Mix in cocoa, salt and baking powder, then add the flour till just combined. Pour into greased and parchment lined 9 x 13 pan. (I greased a metal 9x13, then lined with parchment and greased that too, came out slick as ever) Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Then let cool before topping.
Beat peanut butter filling ingredients till smooth and top cooled brownies, then put in the fridge for about an hour until set. While the filling is setting combine the ganache ingredients in a saucepan and slowly melt together and combine. Pour/spread over the peanut butter filling and return to fridge to set.

Caramel Oatmeal Bars

Sorry it's been quite a while since my last post, little Miss E is getting bigger and bigger which means less nursing time (aka my blogging time). It's amazing how fast a family grows and changes and as things get busier I'm looking for easier and easier recipes that are fast and make big batches. These are an addictive snack that have everyone in our family sneaking a bite out of the freezer :)

 

Caramel Oatmeal Bars

3/4 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour
2 1/2 c. quick-cooking rolled oats
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 c. caramel baking bits (Skor)
1 c. potato chips, crushed
3/4 c. mini marshmallow bits (I use regular mini marshmallows)

Cream the butter and sugar until light and creamy, add the vanilla and eggs and cream again. Slowly add the flour, cinnamon and salt. Then slowly add the oatmeal, a bit at a time. The dough will be very stiff. Add in the caramel, marshmallow and chips (sometimes your hands are your best tools :) ) Spread into a greased 9 x 13 and bake at 350 for 20-22 minutes. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Mixed Nut Bars

This is a recipe I got from my mom, that I have been making every Christmas season since I got married.

 

Mixed Nut Bars

1 1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. margarine
11 1/2 ounces mixed nuts (sometimes I just use peanuts)
1 c. butterscotch chips
1/2 c. light corn syrup
2 Tbsp. margarine

Mix first 3 ingredients and 1/2 cup of margarine. Press into parchment paper lined (or well greased) 9 x 13 baking pan. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with nuts. Melt remaining ingredients in a saucepan and pour over nuts. Bake an additional 10 minutes. Allow to cool before cutting into bars. 

Cranberry Bliss Bar

This was a new recipe this year (I've seen some of you have pinned it too), that will definitely become a holiday tradition around here! I love the combination of warm ginger, cranberries and white chocolate, add some icing and how could you go wrong? Lyndon said, I have to save the whole batch for him, no sharing these bars ;)

 

Cranberry Bliss Bars

1 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. dried cranberries, diced
6 oz. white chocolate, cut into chunks (I used the wafers you find in the bulk section and put them through my food processor for a few seconds)

Cream together butter and sugars until smooth. Add eggs, vanilla, ginger and salt, beat well. Gradually mix in the flour until smooth. Stir in cranberries and chocolate. Spread evenly into a well-greased 9x13 and bake at 350 for 35 minutes (until lightly browned at the edges). Allow to cool then ice:

4 oz. cream cheese (half a brick)
3 c. icing sugar
4 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. dried cranberries, diced

Cream cream cheese, icing sugar, lemon juice and vanilla until smooth. Frost cooled cake and sprinkle with cranberries. Then drizzle with glaze:

1/2 c. icing sugar
1 Tbsp. milk
2 tsp. shortening

Whisk together glaze ingredients and drizzle over cranberries. I found the easiest way to do this was to put the glaze in a sandwich bag and cut the corner off, then drizzle over the cranberries. Allow the bars to sit for several hours before cutting, they look really pretty when you cut them in triangles, enjoy :)

Butter Tart Squares

My husband LOVES butter tarts, and after trying a few versions of the squares I have finally found one that I am happy with! I like the texture, it actually sets so its not so messy to eat and it makes a huge batch, awesome for when you have to bring baking to an event.

 

Butter Tart Squares

2 c. flour
1 c. butter
1/2 c. sugar

Cut together flour, sugar and butter. Press into jelly roll pan (large cookie sheet). Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.

1/2 c. butter, softened
2 c. brown sugar
4 eggs
4 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
pinch salt
1 1/2 c. raisins
3/4 c. coarsely chopped pecans

Cream butter and sugar. Blend in the eggs, add flour, baking powder, vanilla and salt. Mix until well combined. Stir in raisins and nuts. Pour over hot base, bake for another 20-25 minutes or until top springs back. Cool before slicing.

Peanut Butter Bars

Mmm, mmm, mmm! This was another newbie I tried the other day and they are so addictive, you've been warned ;) Sometimes I find peanut butter bars so dry, but these are perfect with the peanut butter layer and frosting.

Peanut Butter Bars

1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. butter or margarine
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/2 c. peanut butter, divided
2 c. oatmeal
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Cream first 3 ingredients together. Add vanilla, eggs and 1 cup of peanut butter and combine. Add the remaining ingredients and mix together. Spread on greased jelly roll pan (18 x 13") Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. While hot spread remaining 1 1/2 cups of peanut butter on top. If you drop on by the spoonful and leave for 30 seconds it will become very runny and easy to spread. Then cool till peanut butter solidifies again. Frost and cut into bars.

Frosting
1/2 c. margarine, softened
1/4 c. milk
1-2 tsp. vanilla
3 Tbsp. cocoa
2-3 c. icing sugar

Mix first 4 ingredients with 2 cups icing sugar, beat till smooth. And depending on how stiff you like your frosting you can add another cup of icing sugar (I did, cause I like a thicker, stiffer frosting). Spread over cooled bars.

Deluxe Chocolate Marshmallow Bars

This is a family favorite! And I love it because it makes such a big batch and is pretty enough to bring to potluck, etc. It looks complicated but is really easy to make.

Deluxe Chocolate Marshmallow Bars
3/4c. margarine, softened
1 1/2c. sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. cocoa
1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional)
4 c. mini marshmallows
 
In mixing bowl, cream margarine and sugar. Add in eggs and vanilla. Add next 4 ingredients, and stir in nuts if using. It will be thick but spread in greased jelly roll pan (which is a large cookie sheet, took my a while before I figured this out :)) Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with marshmallows then return to oven for 2-3 minutes. Using a spatula (dipped in water) spread marshmallows (I usually just pat them down). Cool.

Topping:
1 1/2c. chocolate chips
3 Tbsp. margarine
1 c. peanut butter
2 c. Rice Krispies

Melt first 3 ingredients in saucepan over low heat. When melted add cereal and spread over bars. Chill. I find it helps to let them sit on the counter for a minute or two before cutting.

Hope you enjoy,
Stephanie