Chocolate-Peanut Butter Bars

by Halle
from Virtuous Daughters, December 2011~Volume 11, Number 9

• 2 c. quick-cooking rolled oats
• 1 3/4 c. packed brown sugar
• 1 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 c. margarine or butter
• 1/2 c. chopped peanuts
• 2 c. semisweet chocolate pieces
• 1 beaten egg
• 1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/3 c. creamy peanut butter

 
For crumb mixture, in a very large mixing bowl, stir together the rolled oats, brown sugar, all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Using a pastry blender, cut in the margarine or butter till mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in the chopped peanuts. For topping, stir together 1 3/4 c. of the crumb mixture and the chocolate pieces. Set topping aside. For crust, stir the egg into the remaining crumb mixture. Press mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 15x10x1 inch baking pan. Bake in a 350 oven for 15 minutes. For filling, stir together the sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter till well combined. Carefully pour the peanut-butter mixture evenly over the partially baked crust. Sprinkle with the topping. Bake in a 350 oven for 12 to 15 minutes more or till lightly browned around the edges. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Makes 48.