Fudge- Nut Layer Bars: Christmas Cookies in March

My mother made these treats for us every year at Christmas. They’re like an oatmeal cookie bar with a gooey chocolate layer. It’s one of those recipes that our family still makes every year during the holidays, even though it’s not at all a holiday cookie. I guess sometimes traditions just stick. They’re seriously a big-time favorite of my brother and my chef nephew. There’s something about them that are really addicting and of course, delicious. I personally hated them growing up. Mom added walnuts, and as a kid I disliked all baked goods with nuts (still do, really). Now I make these without the nuts and have become quite fond of them too: Fudge- Nut Layer Bars (minus the nuts).

Here’s the How-To:
fudgelayerbars01
An oatmeal-cookie dough layer is spread into a 9×13 pan.
fudgelayerbars02
A wonderful melted chocolate layer is spread onto the oatmeal layer. It’s basically chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla & salt. You’ll be tempted to eat it by the spoonful, I promise.
fudgelayerbars03
Dollops of additional cookie dough are disbursed on top.
fudgelayerbars04
Here’s the baked product- not terribly attractive, is it? Don’t let this sway you. It’s good stuff.
fudgelayerbars1
Let them cool, and then cut them into bars.
fudgelayerbars2
See those fudgy layers in there? That’s what makes this recipe so good. That fudge layer is amazing.  You can certainly add nuts if you’re into that. I’m not sure where exactly this recipe originated. My mother was always fond of those little Pillsbury Bake-Off winner booklets, so it very well could have been one of those. In any case, this recipe is definitely a winner… a tried and true RecipeGirl family favorite.

This recipe can be found HERE.


  • Share/Bookmark

45 Comments

  1. Posted March 2, 2009 at 6:39 AM | Permalink

    These look yummy. I don’t know if I’d put the nuts in or not. Hmm. So many decisions!

    [Reply]

  2. Posted March 2, 2009 at 6:44 AM | Permalink

    Wondering if I have everything on hand to make these right now…

    They look so good!

    [Reply]

  3. Posted March 2, 2009 at 6:45 AM | Permalink

    Wow, those look delicious! And easy!

    [Reply]

  4. Posted March 2, 2009 at 6:47 AM | Permalink

    I wish I had this recipe over the weekend. They look soooo good!!!

    [Reply]

  5. Posted March 2, 2009 at 7:20 AM | Permalink

    Must be something about them that makes them “Christmas” cookies because we had these every year growing up in my house too. I haven’t had them in a few years but this is the perfect motivation.

    [Reply]

  6. Posted March 2, 2009 at 7:23 AM | Permalink

    I am sure these will be a new favorite at our house! They look delicious!

    [Reply]

  7. Posted March 2, 2009 at 7:42 AM | Permalink

    Those look good!!

    [Reply]

  8. Nancy
    Posted March 2, 2009 at 7:49 AM | Permalink

    At our house these are called “Fudgy Wudgies”
    and they are a fave. Always great to take somewhere – everyone loves them.

    [Reply]

  9. Posted March 2, 2009 at 7:54 AM | Permalink

    My grandmother has made these as long as I can remember and I love them! :) They are simple, yet so delcious. You’re right… that fudgy layer is the best!

    [Reply]

  10. Ginny
    Posted March 2, 2009 at 8:43 AM | Permalink

    Those look yummy! I have been making these at Christmas since I found the recipe in a 2002 Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Cookie Magazine – they call them “Super Easy Chocolate Bars”. My husband loves them.

    [Reply]

  11. Posted March 2, 2009 at 8:45 AM | Permalink

    ohhh. those sound just delicious (and way too tasty to only have at christmas!) glad you made them!

    [Reply]

  12. Posted March 2, 2009 at 8:58 AM | Permalink

    oh these look delicious! Such a nice treat. wish I had some right here :)

    [Reply]

  13. Posted March 2, 2009 at 9:35 AM | Permalink

    HELL YES!! I used to work at a greeting card company where we’d be designing the Christmas line in March, so we always had christmas cookies then to keep us in the mood. This brings back those fond memories! :-)

    [Reply]

  14. Posted March 2, 2009 at 9:43 AM | Permalink

    Oooooh – I think they look fabulous!! I made something similar recently:
    http://cookiepiebklyn.blogspot.com/2009/02/oatmeal-fudge-bars.html

    [Reply]

  15. Posted March 2, 2009 at 9:50 AM | Permalink

    Love your site. The recipes and pictures are the the best. Thank you for sharing.

    [Reply]

  16. Posted March 2, 2009 at 9:50 AM | Permalink

    yum, i loveeee oatmeal! those look delish.

    [Reply]

  17. Posted March 2, 2009 at 10:19 AM | Permalink

    Here’s the thing. Oatmeal and chocolate go together like peaches and cream. No matter what!

    [Reply]

  18. Posted March 2, 2009 at 12:07 PM | Permalink

    Oh my they look sooooo delicious! Oh I wish I had one to hand right now ;)

    Rosie x

    [Reply]

  19. Posted March 2, 2009 at 12:26 PM | Permalink

    so…what if i flicked off the oat part and just ate the fudge? :)

    [Reply]

  20. Posted March 2, 2009 at 12:51 PM | Permalink

    Oh wow, these look like an amazing treat! Why I have no idea what you are talking about, I believed the picture that they are in indeed good stuff. :) They look great!

    [Reply]

  21. Posted March 2, 2009 at 1:14 PM | Permalink

    Those look good….you’ve convinced me that that chocolate layer is something I must try. Growing up I never liked nuts in my desserts either but now I do(actually until I started blogging), go figure!
    ~ingrid

    [Reply]

  22. Posted March 2, 2009 at 1:56 PM | Permalink

    I love chocolate and oatmeal together. These look fantastic!

    [Reply]

  23. Posted March 2, 2009 at 2:12 PM | Permalink

    damn gestational diabetes! i want to make these right now.

    [Reply]

  24. Posted March 2, 2009 at 2:44 PM | Permalink

    Oh, no. Those bars ARE attractive. They’re extremely attractive, and I feel quite attracted to them right now. Oatmeal cookie with gooey fudge. Sign me up! These look amazingly delicious.

    [Reply]

  25. kayceebeebee
    Posted March 2, 2009 at 2:46 PM | Permalink

    I saw your recipe this morning and made them this afternoon. They look delicious. I did not add nuts and I only had milk chocolate chips so I used them instead of semi-sweet chips. The bars are cooling right now. Looking forward to having one for dessert tonight.

    [Reply]

  26. Posted March 2, 2009 at 6:12 PM | Permalink

    Those are simply irresistible!!

    [Reply]

  27. Posted March 2, 2009 at 6:21 PM | Permalink

    I thought I was the only one who didn’t like nuts in my baked goods! Those bars look wonderful (and w/o nuts is my preference).

    [Reply]

  28. Posted March 2, 2009 at 7:18 PM | Permalink

    You had it with gooey chocolate center!

    [Reply]

  29. Posted March 2, 2009 at 7:52 PM | Permalink

    Those look so good; you can’t go wrong with chocolate!

    [Reply]

  30. Posted March 2, 2009 at 7:56 PM | Permalink

    The ingredients in that kind of remind me of no bake cookies, but baked into a scrumptious bar. They look fantastic!

    [Reply]

  31. Posted March 2, 2009 at 8:18 PM | Permalink

    Mmm once you cut them they look unbelievable…they look like brownies wrapped up inside delicious cookies.

    [Reply]

  32. Posted March 2, 2009 at 9:30 PM | Permalink

    not terribly attractive? They look amazing to me! I’m not a huge fan of nuts in sweet desserts either, but I’m coming around.

    [Reply]

  33. Posted March 2, 2009 at 11:01 PM | Permalink

    You must be the queen of sweet things. Every time you just amaze me with all the flavors and textures you come up with!!!

    [Reply]

  34. Posted March 3, 2009 at 3:40 AM | Permalink

    This looks amazing! Love the layers!

    [Reply]

  35. Posted March 3, 2009 at 4:14 AM | Permalink

    I’m glad you did not wait until Xmas – these are irresistible!

    [Reply]

  36. Posted March 3, 2009 at 4:54 AM | Permalink

    Oh my-these looks irresistible! I know my kids will love these and I have all the ingredients to make these today as a special treat. Yay!

    [Reply]

  37. Posted March 3, 2009 at 6:22 AM | Permalink

    The fudge looks like creamy goodness. Love it.

    [Reply]

  38. Posted March 3, 2009 at 11:58 AM | Permalink

    Goodness, Yum! I’d love those–and with nuts, please!

    [Reply]

  39. Posted March 3, 2009 at 11:58 AM | Permalink

    Hi Lori
    Now you’ve done it. I just happen to have all of these ingredients on hand, so guess what I’m about to do? I’m making this for dessert to go along with your “Coq au Zin” recipe which I love and have made to rave reviews before. You just took over here……..lol

    Mark

    [Reply]

  40. Posted March 3, 2009 at 12:31 PM | Permalink

    Wow, those look really decadent! Yum! I just had a big lunch and my stomach feels like it is busting just looking at those!

    [Reply]

  41. Posted March 3, 2009 at 1:15 PM | Permalink

    Now these I love. Love that last shot!

    [Reply]

  42. Posted March 3, 2009 at 1:56 PM | Permalink

    MARVELOUS BARS!!

    [Reply]

  43. Posted March 3, 2009 at 9:33 PM | Permalink

    Those cookies look divine – I am going to come up with an excuse to make these. Whole grain desserts are good for you, right?? :)

    [Reply]

  44. Posted March 5, 2009 at 12:57 PM | Permalink

    Ooohh, I can see why you bring this one back from your childhood!

    [Reply]

  45. Posted March 5, 2009 at 7:18 PM | Permalink

    This certainly does look appealing! I would like 3 please!

    [Reply]

Post a Comment

Your email is never published nor shared. Required fields are marked *

*
*