Wow. Let's talk about these bars for a minute, shall we (yes, I do understand that is the whole point of a food blog. To talk about what you've cooked.)?
These are a get-these-out-of-my-house-NOW type of dessert. A simple oatmeal cookie layer studded with salted peanuts is topped with a combination of semi-sweet chocolate, condensed milk and butter, then finished off with more crumbled oatmeal cookies.
Raise your hand if you just gained 5 pounds reading that.
You may have gained weight from the description, the amount of fat or calories in this recipe, or the actual weight of these bars. Because they are heavy. I was doing bicep curls with these as I tasted them and was sore the next day.
In addition to that, these bars are very hard to cut through after chilling in the fridge. I needed to put all of my upper arm strength (which on a scale of 1-10 ranks 0) into slicing up these goodies. If I had answered the OSI after making these, my super-hero power that I wished I had would have been: "The ability to cut through the Oatmeal Almost-Candy Bars."
But in all honesty, I loved these. I served them during the UNBELIEVABLY BORING NFL playoff games this past weekend and they were a huge hit. I loved how the chewy bottom cookie layer gave way to the sweet, smooth chocolate layer that had a wonderful, soft texture (a result of the condensed milk?) and the crunchy top cookie layer. I left out the raisins (No chocolate and raisins for me. No, no, no. NO.).
We need to thank Lillian of Confectiona's Realm for the fantastic pick this week. Check out her site for the recipe and check out the rest of the TWD bars!
These were a bit too rich for me, but definitely tasty for one tiny bite. They were super heavy, weren't they?? Yours look perfect!
Ditto to the boring games this weekend. I was really hoping for at least ONE close game!
Posted by: Tracey | January 19, 2010 at 12:51 AM
These bars look lusciously decadent!
Posted by: Christine @ Fresh Local and Best | January 19, 2010 at 12:59 AM
Oh! These bars look so yummie...perfect with a glass of milk :-)
Posted by: Juliana | January 19, 2010 at 01:17 AM
Glad they were raisin-free (note to self)... These look terrific with milk - something needs to be healthy here! Beautiful bars!
Posted by: Mike | January 19, 2010 at 01:32 AM
They have oatmeal, so they have to be healthy, right? Right? Delicious!
These would definitely have been the best part of the NFL games this weekend. Not much excitement at all.
Posted by: DailyChef | January 19, 2010 at 01:59 AM
I shyly raise my hand on the 5lb weight gain from the description. But I don't care!! I want some!!!
Posted by: jenn (Bread + Butter) | January 19, 2010 at 03:50 AM
Ciao ! Nice new photo of you ! I cut them very small before the fridge !
Posted by: natalia | January 19, 2010 at 05:03 AM
I was wondering if it was just me that thought the NFL playoffs were a snoozefest. I kept falling asleep!
These bars were just crazy sinful! Yours look amazing!!!!!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 19, 2010 at 07:10 AM
That's kind of what I said--they are "quick eat these bars"!
Delicious little creatures! I didn't use peanuts or raisins--I used pecans and caramel! Yes, hard to cut. Mine are better at room temp. And you scared me there--you said evaporated milk. Is that what you really used, or is that you just typed. The recipe says condensed milk so for a minute there I thought I used the wrong one.
Posted by: Katrina | January 19, 2010 at 08:08 AM
I hope I didn't gain 5 lbs reading your description because I definitely gained more than 5 lbs eating these bars. Good lord, I did not realize how dangerous they are! I'm glad I'm not the only person who feels this way! Your bars look amazing!
Posted by: Jessica | January 19, 2010 at 09:15 AM
Very nice!!! There bars were amazing!!! I gave all mine away at work! too tempting!
Posted by: Sabrina | January 19, 2010 at 09:20 AM
I bet that glass of milk was very necessary for those rich little bites. Love the pics :) It reminds me of a fancier Magic Cookie Bar my mom used to make with chocolate and coconut.
Posted by: Nicole | January 19, 2010 at 10:48 AM
gaining 5lbs or not those oatmeal candy bars are delish either way! I'd have one or two then I'll just go to the gym and burn it off hehehe
Posted by: Jessie | January 19, 2010 at 10:48 AM
These look fantastic! I could go for about 5 of those right now :o)
Posted by: Emily | January 19, 2010 at 11:04 AM
Your bars look fantastic. I ended up freezing most of mine and they are taunting me from the freezer!
Posted by: Erin | January 19, 2010 at 11:07 AM
These bars do look really good! I think my hubby would be a big fan.
Posted by: Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction | January 19, 2010 at 11:28 AM
Yeah, what's with the raisins? They don't belong in the same hemisphere as chocolate.
But inquiring minds want to know - do bicep curls count as exercise while eating these?
Posted by: Megan | January 19, 2010 at 12:59 PM
They look great. I left out the raisins too. I have to put some in the freezer to keep my husband from eating them all.
Posted by: Kim | January 19, 2010 at 01:24 PM
They so look mighty tastey Teanna. I may need to make them just to improve the strength of my spaghetti arms.
Posted by: Eliana | January 19, 2010 at 02:02 PM
I think your super-slicing power is intact! These look wonderful:)
Posted by: Mary | January 19, 2010 at 03:16 PM