Oatmeal Fudge Bars

5 from 1 vote

Share some home-baked love with these fabulous oatmeal fudge bars. Think buttery shortbread, chewy oats + a thick ribbon of chocolate, layered into pure comfort.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 360kcal

Author: Sue Moran

Equipment

9x9 square baking pan
parchment paper optional

Ingredients

fudge filling

1/2 cup chocolate chips or Ghirardelli melting wafers
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 Tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla

dough

1 cup unsalted butter, room temp
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 Tbsp vanilla
1/4 tsp fine salt
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup rolled oats regular or quick cooking but not steel cut.

optional garnish

flaky sea salt

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray your 9x9 baking pan and line with parchment paper for easy removal and slicing later.
First make the filling. Put the 1/2 cup chocolate chips or Ghirardelli melting wafers with the 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk and 1 Tbsp butter into a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 45 seconds. Stir to melt all the chocolate. Stir in the 1 tsp vanilla. Your filling should be smooth and glossy. Set aside.
Cream the 1 cup unsalted butter, room temp and 2/3 cup granulated sugar until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute.
Beat in the 1 large egg, 1 Tbsp vanilla, and 1/4 tsp fine salt.
Add the 2 cups all purpose flour and 1/4 cup rolled oats; mix on low just until large moist clumps form.
Measure off about 1 cup of dough to set aside for your topping.
Press the remaining dough evenly into the pan. Use floured fingers if it's sticky. You want the dough even from side to side, and make sure to get the corners.
Pour the chocolate filling over the crust and spread out gently.
Scatter the remaining dough in rough crumbles across the top (see post for photos.)
Bake 28–35 minutes, until edges are golden and the top is just turning color. Shortbread type doughs do not get very brown, they stay pale.
Cool completely before lifting out and slicing. Add a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt if desired.

Nutrition