Foley Four Fave Oatmeal Fudge Bars

A throwback recipe I made for the 2017 Bake Off competition recently at Kerry's house. While I didn't win, my kids remember having these bars when they came home from school.  I remember finding the recipe in a Junior League Cookbook and it's part of the original Foley Family Cookbook.  Once again, it was enjoyed by all the Foley kids.

2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, softened (divided)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (divided)
2 eggs
3 cups quick cooking oats
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt (divided)
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12 oz.) package semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a jelly roll pan, 8 x 12 x 1, with Baking Pam.  
Set aside.

Combine the brown sugar and 1 cup of the butter and beat until light and fluffy.  Add in 1 teaspoon of the vanilla and the eggs and beat until combined.  In another bowl, combine the oats, flour, baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt.  Stir the dry ingredients into the butter/sugar mixture until combined.

Reserve about one-third of the mixture and press the remaining mixture into the prepared pan. 

In a small saucepan, combine the sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips and remaining butter and place over medium-low heat.  Stir constantly until melted and smooth.  Remove from heat and stir in the remaining 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon salt.  Spread the chocolate mixture over the oat mixture in the pan, then drop the remaining oat mixture by teaspoonfuls over the chocolate mixture.  (I form flat pancake type patties and place over chocolate fudge mixture).  

Bake in the preheated oven until golden, about 25 minutes.  Let cool slightly before cutting into bars.

Serves 24-48 depending on how big you cut them.  I cut them into very small squares for the Bake Off party.  

This photo was taken before cutting.  I had just scored the top row and was deciding how big to make them.  These are rich so they are best cut into small squares.