A few years ago, when I first became interested in baking and was trying to become more comfortable in the kitchen, I received the America’s Test Kitchen Family Baking Book for Christmas. It was just what I needed at the time; the book was loaded with simple recipes accompanied by step-by-step instructions that made the desserts seem totally doable, even for a novice baker. I’m a visual person so I also loved that there were plenty of photos, not only of the recipes themselves, but demonstrating some of the more intimidating techniques (hello, yeast bread!). The book became such a favorite that I bought a second copy and hosted my very first giveaway on this blog.
Since receiving that book, a few things have happened that have caused me to turn to it less often when I want to bake. First, I’ve become more confident in my baking, which has led me to choose slightly more complicated or unique recipes. An even bigger factor, though, has to be my obsession with cookbooks; I’m always borrowing new ones from my library and taking advantage of sales at our local bookstores, which means there are a whole lot of recipes to choose from when I step into my kitchen. My beloved cookbook no longer fits in the bookshelf on the first floor of our house, and has been relegated to the overflow basement bookshelf along with many others.
Over the weekend I turned to baking to relieve some stress. (You may have heard, the Bruins are playing in the Stanley Cup Finals. We lost a tough game 5 on Friday night and tonight’s game 6 has been on my mind all weekend. We need a win tonight to send it to an exciting game 7; I’m not willing to consider the alternative right now.) Anyway, I wanted to make something simple, but delicious, and I knew I’d find a suitable recipe in my America’s Test Kitchen Baking Book so I retrieved it from the basement and began thumbing through the pages. These oatmeal fudge bars caught my eye immediately – a sweet, crumbly brown sugar-oatmeal base topped with a layer of rich, fudgy chocolate? Yum! You probably have all of the ingredients to make them in your pantry right now too. They come together easily, though they’re not quick with cooling times totaling about 3 hours. They reminded me of these bars we made for Tuesdays with Dorie a while ago, though they were less rich, which was a good thing in my book. I sent the bars to work with Shane today so I wouldn’t stress eat the entire plate, and I hear they’re a hit 🙂
So, any other Bruins fans out there? Are you feeling as nervous as me today?
Oatmeal Fudge Bars
from America’s Test Kitchen Family Baking Book
Crust/Topping
1 cup (3 oz) quick-cooking oats
1 cup packed (7 oz) light brown sugar
3/4 cup (3 3/4 oz) all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Filling
1/4 cup (1 1/4 oz) all-purpose flour
1/4 cup packed (1 3/4 oz) light brown sugar
2 teaspoons instant espresso
1/4 teaspoon salt
9 oz semisweet chocolate, finely chopped (chocolate chips work too)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large egg
To make the crust: Preheat oven to 325 F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on opposite sides to lift the bars out after they’re baked. Spray the pan/foil with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large bowl whisk the oats, brown sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Add the melted butter and use a rubber spatula to stir until all of the dry ingredients are moistened. Set aside about 3/4 cup of the crust mixture for the topping. Dump the remaining crust mixture into the prepared baking pan and press it into an even layer.
Bake for 8 minutes, or until light golden brown. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and cool the crust completely, about 1 hour. Maintain oven temperature.
To make the filling: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, espresso powder and salt. Add the chocolate and butter to a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30 second intervals at 50% power (stirring in between each interval) until the chocolate and butter are melted and smooth. Let cool slightly. Add the egg to the chocolate mixture and whisk to combine. Use a rubber spatula to fold in the flour mixture just until combined (the mixture will be thick).
Spread the filling over the cooled crust. Smooth the top, then sprinkle the reserved oat topping over the filling. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached.
Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the bars cool completely in the pan, about 2 hours. Use the foil overhang to lift the bars out of the pan and cut into squares.
Wow Tracey those look amazing! I will have to try them!!
Eh! YUM!!!
These looks so good….I’m going to have to try to make them soon. Thx for sharing!
so nervous about the game tonight! I’ll be stress eating my way through it
tracey they are looking great 🙂
really easy and delicious recipe 🙂
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Mmmm love the look of these! Yum!
You’re right! I do have all the ingredients in my pantry right now… these look and sound incredible! thank you for sharing…
Mmm, I love oatmeal and I live chocolate, I don’t think there is a better way to combine the two 🙂
GO BRUINS!!!!
those are gorgeous! wish i had some 🙂
Those look so good!
delicious desserts looks wonderful
Tracey, the rest of us don’t have to buy cookbooks. We get inspired by visiting you. 🙂 These look fabulous and I’m making them tomorrow. If I can wait that long.
GO CANUCKS!!!
😀
I’ll still read your blog even if you’re a Bruins fan haha. Yes, I’m aware they lost badly tonight, but I don’t lose faith in my boys, like I’m sure you don’t lose faith in yours!
These look delicious btw.
DELICIOUS! These bars look so so yummy. 🙂
YUM. I’ve made these but added candy pieces to the top. Plain or not, these are a winner!!
These look wonderful! My mom used to make something similar when I was a kid, haven’t had them in years! Might have to make them again soon. Thanks!
I have that very same cookbook and when you said you had put it away I thought, “How sad! I use that book all the time.” Then I realized I hadn’t opened it for months. 🙂 It really is a great source for no-fail recipes. I haven’t tried this one yet but I think I need to.
I’m a sucker for anything with an oatmeal crust–and I love that these have espresso powder in the filling!
These look so yummy but I better have plans to get them out of the house quick. I have little willpower and I’m trying to eat less treats. Boring!
But I will be making them.
I’m a huge fan of those bars we made for TWD, but these sound really great too. Any bar or cookie with oatmeal and chocolate is probably pretty tasty!
These look so yummy! I have had to relegate some of my not-as-used cookbooks to the garage and then I forget about them.
omg tracy for real?
man these are just amazing.
never heard of them!
:::printing:::
these look so good!! Have I mentioned recently that I love your blog? simple good food that makes me want to try every single recipe!
Made these today and couldn’t wait till they cooled to try them. Yummmmo! Simple but rich tasting and addictive! They will go into my “keeper” file and now I need to start looking for that cookbook! Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Just made these this afternoon and I couldn’t wait until they cooled to taste them. They are simple but so rich tasting and addictive! They are going in my keeper file and thanks for sharing the recipe. I need to keep an eye out for that cookbook.
Oh, these oatmeal fudge bars look incredible… I could use a little baking stress relief today!
Not a Bruins fan but I hope they win game 7 tonight 🙂 For your sanity’s sake. Our hometown AHL team went to the Calder cup playoffs this year and dropped the ball. they won two games but the other team got to four first. 🙁 But still exciting!
These bars do remind me of the oatmeal bars from Dorie, I’ll have to try these to see how they measure up.
Yum-EEE!
About to try them! Yummy!!