Tupelo Bars

Name: Tupelo Bars
Ingredients: For Bottom and Top crust:; 4 cups Old-Fashioned Oats (see notes)*; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 2 1/4 cups brown sugar, firmly packed; 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda; 1/2 tsp. salt; 14 ounces (3 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted; For The Filling:; 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips; 2 tbsp. unsalted butter; 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk; 2 tsp. vanilla extract; 1 cup chopped walnuts, optional (see notes)*

13 ingredients

1 steps

Ingredients

For Bottom and Top crust:
4 cups Old-Fashioned Oats (see notes)*
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/4 cups brown sugar, firmly packed
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
14 ounces (3 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
For The Filling:
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts, optional (see notes)*

Directions

1

["1). Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 C).", "", "2). Spray bottom and sides of 13 x 9-inch baking pan with cooking spray.", "", "3). In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, flour, sugar, baking soda and salt; mix well. Stir in melted butter; mix well. Reserve 1/2 mixture for top crust of bars. Press remaining 1/2 mixture firmly into an even layer on bottom of prepared pan.", "", "4). To prepare the filling, melt the chocolate chips and butter in a double boiler over low heat, stirring until smooth. Stir in sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract; add chopped nuts (optional). Mix well.", "OR:", "In a large microwave safe bowl, microwave chocolate chips, butter and sweetened condensed milk on HIGH (100% power) for 1 minute, stir. Microwave at additional 10-20 second intervals, stirring until smooth. Remove from microwave and stir in vanilla extract. Mix in nuts, if using (optional).", "", "5). Spread the filling evenly over the crust in the baking pan. Place the remaining crust mixture on top of the filling (\"this part can be a little bit tricky