Treats - Oatmeal Chip Peanut Squares

Once upon a time, in a home of a young couple, there was a woman who didn't know how to bake. One day, a friend of hers signed her up for a cookie baking contest. That is when her baking adventures began and she would forever be changed.......

A few years ago, my friend Natalie signed me up for a cookie contest at work. I was hesitant because I didn't really know how to bake anything but decided "why not. I need to learn." And that was when my love of baking started. 

Mostly, I've made cookies. I've made some cakes and bars, but I stick with cookies. They're easy to make and there are so many different types. This week I've decided to branch out though, try some new stuff. 

I made Oatmeal Chip Peanut Squares this week. I saw this recipe in my '500 Best Cookies, Bars & Squares" book by Esther Brody. I read the ingredients and saw that I had it all on hand, so I made them. 

Ingredients:

•    1/2 cup packed brown sugar
•    1/2 cup corn syrup
•    1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
•    1 tsp vanilla
•    3 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
•    1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
•    1/4 cup smooth peanut butter

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• Grease an  8-inch square cake pan
• In a large bowl, beat sugar, syrup, butter, and vanilla until blended and smooth. Stir in oats. Press evenly into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Place pan on a wire rack to coll for 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over top, then drop small spoonfuls of peanut butter over  top of the chips. Let stand for about 5 minutes, until chips and peanut butter have softened, then run a knife through the topping to create a marbling effect. Chill for 15 to 20 minutes, until topping is firm, then cut into squares.
• Makes 16 squares. 

I used chocolate and peanut butter chips to make it really peanut buttery, which I think it did. 

My opinion of this treat: well, it was too sweet the first day. I think the corn syrup was just too much for me, and I like sweet stuff so I thought that was a bummer. But after a few days, it seemed all the ingredients settled together and it was perfect, not too sweet but sweet enough to satisfy your sugar craving. Rob figured that out too and they were gone within a day after I thought that. Damn. 

I don't know if I'll make these again because the book has a ton of recipes, but then again, who knows. I usually have all the ingredients on hand, and if I need a quick treat, then I'll whip this up.