lion house oatmeal fudge bars

i made these the other night for a party.  they were a huge hit!

makes 36 bars
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1½ cups quick-cooking rolled oats
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips
¼ cup margarine
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts, optional

preheat oven to 350 degrees f. grease a 9 × 13-inch baking pan and set aside.
cream together butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl; add eggs and vanilla. sift flour, baking soda, and salt into a small bowl, and then add to creamed mixture. mix in oats.
combine sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, and margarine in a heavy saucepan, and heat until chocolate is just melted. stir in vanilla and nuts.
spread two-thirds of the dough into prepared baking pan. spread with chocolate mixture. drop remaining one-third of dough on top by spoonfuls. bake 25 minutes. cool and then cut into bars.

raw cookie dough bites

raw cookie dough bites

the girls love these because they think they are chocolate chip/oatmeal cookie dough balls! 

from adashofcompassion blog.

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup raw almonds
• 2/3 cup raw walnuts
• 2/3 cup raw oat flakes (see note below)
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 cup raw agave nectar
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 3 tbsp cacao nibs or dark chocolate chips

Instructions

1. In a food processor, process the almonds, walnuts, oats, cinnamon and salt to a fine meal.
2. Add the agave nectar and vanilla and process to combine.
3. Next, add the cocoa nibs (or chocolate chips) and pulse just to combine.
4. Roll the cookie dough into balls (about 1 tbsp each) and place them on a cookie pan lined with parchment paper. Place the pan in the freezer for about an hour to firm up. Store balls in a tightly covered container in the freezer.

Chewy Cherry Almond Granola Bars

This recipe comes from Iowa Girl Eats blog.  These are sooooo good!  Of course, I added some chocolate chips.  Dark chocolate, cuz it's healthier.

Chewy Cherry Almond Granola Bars

Makes 16 thin bars
Adapted from Joyful Abode
Ingredients:
1 cup whole almonds
1 cup pecan halves (could use walnuts)
1 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup dried cherries, chopped if large
2 Tablespoons sesame seeds
1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons honey
3 Tablespoons coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
dash of cinnamon
Directions:
1. Add 1/2 cup each of almonds, pecans, and old fashioned oats into a food processor. Process until fine (not too long or it will start to turn into nut butter!) then pour into a large bowl. Roughly chop the remaining pecans and almonds, then add the bowl. Add remaining old fashioned oats, cherries, and sesame seeds, then mix well and set aside.
2. Combine honey, coconut oil, salt, vanilla & almond extracts, and cinnamon in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the mixture melts, then foams, then cook for 15 seconds longer. Pour over nut mixture and mix thoroughly to coat all the ingredients.
3. Line a half sheet pan or 8×8 pan with enough saran wrap or parchment paper to let it hang far over the sides, then pour in granola. Press very, very firmly with your hands or something with a flat bottom (may need to spray it with non-stick spray.) Wrap the overhanging saran wrap or parchment paper up over the sides and refrigerate until firm, about 4 hours.
4. Using a sharp knife, cut chilled granola into bars. Wrap individually in saran wrap and store in the fridge or freezer.