Tuesdays with Dorie: Chocolate Oatmeal Almost-Candy Bars
January 19, 2010 at 1:04 am | Posted in cookies & bars, groups, sweet things, tuesdays with dorie | 30 Comments 
I am the type who is already daydreaming about Halloween in January, so Lillian’s choice of Chocolate Oatmeal Almost-Candy Bars for TWD was alright by me! Chocolatey, peanutty goo sandwiched between two layers of oatmeal chew make for a fine candy bar approximation, especially when cut into fun-size bars.
The original recipe yields a bit too much (actually a lot too much!) for just two people, so I made a third of it in a loaf pan. For me it was a little too heavy on the oat mixture. If I make it again, I’ll go with 1/4 of the oat mixture and 1/3 of the chocolate goo. A little extra chocolate is always a good thing! Also, I left out the raisins in the chocolate layer. Something about that was a little too reminiscent of a Chunky Bar…despite what Nestlé’s website says, that combo does not bring back fond memories. The peanuts alone were plenty tasty.
For the recipe, see Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan, or read Confectiona’s Realm. Don’t forget to check out the TWD Blogroll!
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a whisk and a spoon 
Lovely looking bars. Almost healthy with all those oats! I love combination of chocolate and peanut butter.
Comment by Sarah, Maison Cupcake— January 19, 2010 #
Ciao ! I made a half batch and it is still too much !!! Glad you liked it !!
Comment by natalia— January 19, 2010 #
I agree with you about the oatmeal layer being a bit too thick. Your bars are good looking anyway.
Comment by Romaine— January 19, 2010 #
c’est vrai que cela faisait une grosse recette, mais c’était vraiment extra bon 🙂
Comment by isabelle— January 19, 2010 #
You hit the nail on the head comparing this to a chunky bar. I too wasn’t a fan of that candy, but am definitely a fan of this cookie recipe. Your fun size portions look sinful!
Comment by Linda— January 19, 2010 #
Lovely Job! They look perfect!
Comment by Sabrina— January 19, 2010 #
I agree with you about the raisins only I couldn’t exactly explain my reasoning quite as well as you did. 🙂 Your bars look amazing!
Comment by Valerina— January 19, 2010 #
I, too, thought it was rather heavy on the oatmeal base, so I thought next time I’d divide it a bit more evenly…top and bottom.
Comment by chocolatechic— January 19, 2010 #
Hey, don’t be dissing the Chunky! I agree about the oatmeal layer, when cold you could break your teeth on it. More chocolate = more better.
Comment by Beryl— January 19, 2010 #
I’m with you Steph! Anything with chocolate, peanut butter, and oats is ok by my book. These bars look great by the way.
Comment by Allison— January 19, 2010 #
I thought the oatmeal layer was just right, but mine weren’t actually refrigerated (just kept outside), so maybe that made the difference. I’m glad you liked them. Thanks for baking along with me this week.
Comment by Lillian— January 19, 2010 #
These look wonderful! I thought there was too much to the base too, so I may reduce that next time. I made a half recipe and was tempted to make the full recipe of chocolate filling. Next time…
Comment by Mary— January 19, 2010 #
Oooh, that does look oatmeal-y! and borderline healthy, LOL. That’s a great photo.
Comment by Jacque— January 19, 2010 #
LOVE this! It looks so fabulous. I know what I am baking this weekend! Thanks for the inspiration!
Comment by Mary— January 19, 2010 #
they look great 🙂 i was hoping that the chocolate layer would be more solid but a chill in the fridge helped that along.
great pics!
Comment by Jeannette— January 19, 2010 #
They look great. I also left out the raisins. I made a full recipe and Pete and I are drowning in these things. A third of the recipe would have been perfect.
Comment by Kim— January 19, 2010 #
Way to cut down the recipe. I loved these bars and yours look so good!!
Comment by Michelle— January 19, 2010 #
Oh my goodness…Chunky bars!! I had forgotten all about those. I loved them! I added the raisins because I like chocolate covered raisins. Your bars look perfect!
Comment by Susan— January 19, 2010 #
Half? I think you could make 1/4 and get a lot of bars. This made so many! But they were so good – and they freeze well too…. these look great! Even with raisins…. 🙂
Comment by mikejdunlap— January 19, 2010 #
My family loved these. I left out the raisins too.
Comment by Sharon— January 19, 2010 #
Your bars look picture perfect 🙂
Comment by Eliana— January 19, 2010 #
Mmmmm I want some!!! I need some sweets in my life. 🙂
Comment by Sook @ My Fabulous Recipes— January 19, 2010 #
Perfectly delicious looking. I was happy to have a friend over to send a large protion of these home with because the two of us would have eaten the entire pan.
Comment by Carol Peterman— January 19, 2010 #
…Ahhh… just as usual; everytime I visit I’m reminded that perfection has a blog! Wonderfully done Steph!
Comment by vibi— January 19, 2010 #
yeah, this does make a lot. I froze a bunch of ours. Yours look great!
Comment by Jodie— January 20, 2010 #
I agree,this recipe made way to many bars. I gave half to neighbors and my teenagers ate the other half, in record time I might add!
Mimi
Comment by Mimi— January 20, 2010 #
They look just perfect, seriously, a more perfect photo of them I cannot imagine. I made a full batch, kept half here, sent the other half to the swim meet hospitality room. Today they begged me to make another batch, so I baked a whole one, put half in the freezer to take to an event this weekend, filled the covered cake stand with the other half and half of those are gone already. I don’t eat chocolate, Alex is hypoglycemic and rarely indulges in much sweet stuff, so I am thinking Mark and Matt better slow down with the eating of these bars…okay maybe not Matt as he swims 5 hours a day 6 days a week, but Mark is loving these a little too much!
Comment by Kayte— January 20, 2010 #
Hahaha goo is really the only way to describe the chocolate layer! The bars look delicious!
Comment by Teanna— January 21, 2010 #
I also made a 1/2 batch and like you would cut the lower level next time. Mayabe more nuts in the top layer
Yours look perfect. Gooey, chocolately, oaty. Perfect.
Comment by Margaret— January 23, 2010 #
I have completely missed this recipe in the book. These look wonderful!
Comment by Hilary— January 25, 2010 #