Vanilla Cream Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars

If gooey is your thing, you will love these. If gooey is not your thing, you won’t. But who isn’t in to gooey baked goods?  Nobody that I associate with.

These are rich, chocolate-y, oatmeal-y, caramel-y goodness. There actually is no caramel involved, but the sweetened condensed milk has that effect on things.

Recipe

·       2 cans (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

·       1 ½ tablespoons vanilla

·       1 cup chocolate chips

·       2 sticks butter

·       1 cup brown sugar

·       2 eggs

·       1 teaspoon vanilla

·       2 ½ cups flour

·       2 cups old fashioned oats

·       ½ teaspoon baking soda

·       ½ teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 375.  Mix the milk, vanilla, and chocolate chips in a bowl. Set aside.  In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together.  Add the vanilla and eggs.  Slowly mix in the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt.  Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan. Spread about half of the oat mixture into the bowl, and press down. Bake for about 8-10 minutes.  Pour the milk mixture over it (adding more chocolate chips if your heart desires), then drop the remaining oat mixture in clumps on top. It should be scattered-looking so the milk seeps on top and creates a delicious-looking effect.  Bake for about 20 minutes. Let cool completely before slicing. Actually, I refrigerated mine a bit to help fully set the condensed milk mixture. I don't have that kind of time when I'm baking and sampling.