Candy-coated Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

Since a few of you don’t jump up and down drooling for peanut butter and chocolate, and some of you are allergic to peanut butter, I made you a peanut butter-less version of Reese’s P.Bitty Bars. You get the same gooey chocolate middle and crumbly oatmeal layers, minus the peanut butter. Besides, I really needed to use up a bag of red and green M&M’s before I bring home Halloween candy.

Sweet wishes,

Candy-coated Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

Staci at Random Sweets
Here is a great way to use up lingering M&M's candies. Bars with a gooey chocolate middle and a crumbly oatmeal topping.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24
Calories 274 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 9×13 pan

Ingredients
  

Creamy Chocolate Filling

  • 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
  • 4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Oatmeal Dough

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature, 2 sticks
  • cups brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups old-fashioned oats or quick-cooking oats
  • ½ cup mini M&M's chocolate candies , or regular M&M's chopped

Instructions
 

  • Heat oven to 350°F. Line 13×9 baking pan with non-stick foil, letting ends extend over edges. Or spray with cooking spray.

Creamy Chocolate Filling

  • Over low heat in a small saucepan, slowly melt chocolate and sweetened condensed milk, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool for 1 minute, then stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Set aside to cool while you make the dough.

Oatmeal Dough

  • In the large bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat softened butter and brown sugar.
  • Add vanilla, baking soda, and salt. Beat until fluffy.
  • Add flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating just until combined. Stir in oatmeal. Mix will be crumbly.
  • Firmly press 2/3 of the dough into the bottom of the pan.
  • Spread chocolate filling evenly over dough.
  • With a pastry blender or a fork, mix M&M's baking bits into remaining dough and then sprinkle over the chocolate filling. Lightly press the mixture into the chocolate so it bakes into the bars.
  • Bake 25-30 minutes until lightly brown. Cool completely. If you used a foil-lined pan, pull the bars out and cut into squares on a cutting board. Otherwise, cut bars in pan. Store in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 274kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 4gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 137mgPotassium: 154mgFiber: 2gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 290IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 73mgIron: 2mg
Keyword chocolate, M&M’s, oatmeal, quick-cooking oats

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All text and images © Staci Mergenthal • Random Sweets

Tried this recipe?Mention @RandomSweets and tag #OurSweetMidwestLife

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4 Comments

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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