Cinnamon and Cream Cheese Oat Bars

I really don't bake in the summer.  However, if there is a cool day I seize the opportunity and make something.  It was about 55 degrees F here yesterday morning.  I have a function to go to with a potluck.  Lucky me, I got to make dessert.  I love making dessert for a potluck.  I get to make something sweet and it goes out of my house pretty darn quick.  This is a good thing. With these bars it is a really good thing.  These might also be called "talk to you bars" or "call your name bars", if you know what I mean.


Cinnamon and Cream Cheese Oat Bars
These bars are the bomb.  Creamy and delicious, melt in your mouth.
Based on this recipe here at Food Network.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 cups (about 11 ounces) cinnamon chips
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon



Prepare a 9 x 13 with foil or parchment hanging over sides.  Preheat oven to 350F.

In a food processor combine oats, flour, brown sugar and pulse.  Add in the butter one piece at a time until all is added.  Add in the chips.  Pulse until it forms clumps easily.  You may have to stop and push down the ingredients depending on how large your processor is.  (You can do all of this with a pastry blender or a fork even. You will burn some of those calories that you are about to eat.) Remove and pour half of the mixture in the prepared pan.

Place 9 x 13  bottom layer in the middle of a preheated oven for about 12 to 15 minutes.

While that is baking, beat the cream cheese, add in the sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon and the vanilla.  When the time is up, remove the crust from the oven and pour the cream cheese mixture over top and the sprinkle the remainder of the oat mixture, evenly over top.

Place back in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes.  The top should be golden. Remove from oven, let cool and refrigerate overnight (if you can stand it).  Serve chilled.

Granola Bites

Some beautiful; Spring weather around here yesterday and today.  We were able to enjoy a lot of time outside yesterday. We went looking for tad poles. When I was a kid I would ride my bike down to this little creek about 3/4 of a mile away from my house and gather up some tad poles.  I would bring them home and watch them grow into little frogs, then I would take them back to the creek or release them.

I wanted my daughters to enjoy that so my husband and I decided to take them. I think we were too early, maybe- no tadpoles yet... I will keep you posted.

I tasted these at a Potluck sort of thing.  Asked the lady for the recipe because I had to have it.  Love these.  

Granola Bites

3/4 cup pancake syrup
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup melted butter or oil
3 cups oats, toasted
1/4 cup chocolate chips or candy coated chocolate
3 tablespoons peanut butter ( a bit heaping)
handful of sliced almonds
1/2 cup sweetened coconut

In a 350F oven toast the oatmeal on a cookie sheet until lightly golden.

While the oats are toasting, gather up your ingredients.  In a saucepan place sugar, syrup, oil/butter and peanut butter.  Place on medium heat and melt.  Whisk together until it bubbles.  In a large mixing bowl, place coconut and almonds.  When oats are done put in mixing bowl.  Pour heated peanut butter mixture into oat mixture and stir.  Spoon into a parchment lined 8 x 8 baking pan.  Using the back of a spatula push down ont he mixture, until flat and even.  When a little cool sprinkle chocolate chips on top.  Cut when somewhat cooled but before it is too hard. Let cool completely.