BROWNED BUTTER OAT BARS

These are amazingly flavorful bars. And they are the kind of bar that you can fool yourself into thinking that their healthy. With 2 cups of oatmeal you can make up some good excuses why they are okay to eat when you are trying to lose weight. Just so you know, so far I have successfully avoided that trap. Of course they are only a few hours old. But seriously before I would have eaten at least two by now.

We have company coming tomorrow so there was a good excuse to make them and a good excuse why they need to leave the house tomorrow when my company leaves.

One thing you need to do when you make this recipe is that you really need to brown the butter. Don't just see it starting to turn and remove it from the heat, make sure it has turned golden, you know the color of butterscotch.

BROWNED BUTTER OAT BARS

2 cups oats
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup butterscotch chips

2 sticks (1/2 pound) unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9 x 13 pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.

In a bowl combine flour, oats, salt and baking soda. Set aside. Measure out brown sugar and set aside. In a large bowl place the butterscotch chips.

In a small sauce pan melt butter until it has browned, turning a deep golden color. It goes from golden to burnt quickly so keep an eye on it. Once it is done whisk it into the butterscotch chips, whisking until it is smooth. Add the brown sugar and then the vanilla. Finally whisk in the egg. Using a rubber spatula stir in half of the flour mixture, combine and add the remaining flour.

Spoon into pan, patting with the back of a rubber spatula to smooth out. Bake for about 20 minutes. The edges should be golden.


JUST try to eat one...