Crunchy Chocolate Bars

I just bought a new book, Leiths Baking Bible at my local bookstore. I was pretty excited, since getting good cookbooks over here is quite a task!! I had to try out the book, and the crunchy chocolate bars just popped out to me! They seemed perfect, and super-easy!! And plus, it would use up the last of the super-huge box of oats I bought to make my favorite chocolate chip cookies!

The bars tasted soo good. I halved the recipe, and wished I hadn't. They got over within hours!!! And the best part was, the recipe took like just 5 minutes to prepare, before going into the oven!! It looked so good going into the oven -








Crunchy Chocolate Bars
Adapted from Leiths Baking Bible


2 sticks [225 g, 8 oz.] butter
3/4 cup [140 g, 5 oz.] light brown sugar
1 cup [140 g, 5 oz.] self-raising flour - I substituted using 1 c A.P flour + 1 tsp. b. powder + 1/4 tsp b. soda
1 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder
3/4 cup [85 g, 3 oz] porridge oats
3/4 cup [85 g, 3 oz] crushed corn flakes

To finish -
140 g, 5 oz milk chocolate, chopped into small pieces


Instructions -

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F [180 C]. Grease and line a 11 x 7 inch tin lined with parchment. [ I didn't use]
   
2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together, until pale and fluffy.
3. In a small bowl, sift together the flour and cocoa.
4. Add to the butter mixture.
5. Then add the oats and corn flakes. Mix well.
6. The batter will be very dry.
7. Press into the prepared tin [a potato masher will help], and bake for about 20 mins.
8. The mixture should still be a little soft when in the oven.
9. Mark into 16 bars while still hot, then allow to cool completely in the tin.
10. Melt the chocolate in a using a bain marie [I melted in the microwave]
11. Spread over the bars. When the chocolate has set, cut the bars into pieces.