Chocolate-Oat Bars

 

1/2

cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/3

cup fat-free sweetened condensed milk (from 14-ounce can)

1

cup Gold Medal® whole wheat flour

1/2

cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats

1/2

teaspoon baking powder

1/2

teaspoon baking soda

1/4

teaspoon salt

3/4

cup packed brown sugar

1/4

cup canola or soybean oil

1

teaspoon vanilla

1/4

cup fat-free cholesterol-free egg product or 1 egg

2

tablespoons old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats

2

teaspoons butter, softened

• 1 Heat chocolate chips and milk in 1-quart heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth; set aside. Heat oven to 350°. Spray square pan, 8x8x2 or 9x9x2 inches, with cooking spray.
• 2 Mix flour, 1/2 cup oats, the baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl; set aside. Stir brown sugar, oil, vanilla and egg product in medium bowl with fork until smooth; stir into flour mixture until blended. Reserve 1/2 cup dough in small bowl for topping.
• 3 Pat remaining dough in pan (spray fingers with cooking spray or lightly flour if dough is sticky). Spread chocolate mixture over dough. Add 2 tablespoons oats and the butter to reserved dough; mix with pastry blender or fork until crumbly. Drop small spoonfuls of oat mixture evenly over chocolate mixture.
• 4 Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until top is golden and firm. Cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours. For bars, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows.