Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Who doesn't have a graduation/birthday/anniversary party to go to these days? Take along these bars which were a hit with my family. If you love chocolate and peanut butter, you'll love this recipe!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

*1 king-sized milk chocolate bar      
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup butter

1 3/4 cups brown sugar      

2 cups rolled oats

*1/2 cup chopped mixed nuts

1 egg, beaten

14 oz sweetened condensed milk     

*1/3 cup crunchy peanut butter

*I used Hershey's Symphony Chocolate, omitted the nuts and substituted creamy peanut butter.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Finely chop the chocolate. Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl.

Add the butter to the flour and rub in until the mixture resembles bread crumbs. Stir in the sugar, oats, and chopped nuts.

Put a quarter of the mixture into a bowl and stir in the chopped chocolate. Set aside.

Stir, the egg into the remaining mixture, then press into the bottom of a 13x9-inch baking pan.

Bake the base in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, mix the condensed milk and peanut butter together. Pour the mixture over the base and spread evenly, the sprinkle the reserved chocolate mixture on top and press down lightly.

Return to the oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool in pan, then cut into bars or squares.

Makes 25

Adapted from the "Blissful Brownies" cookbook.