Oatmeal Spice Bars

Thirteen years ago and still newlyweds, dh and I traveled to Oklahoma City to attend the World Quarterhorse Show. Little did I know back then, *wink*, that all our future “vacations” would have in some way or another to do with horses or dogs, whether it was selling/buying stock or participating in cattledog trials…that is, until this summer’s camping trip to South Dakota. *Smile* Now dh agrees with me, there really is more than the destination when planning a road trip!

Anyway, while at this World Quarterhorse Show, dh gave in to temptation and frequented a cookie booth in the vendor area. He came back to the stands with this huge thick oatmeal cookie.

(He goes weak in the knees for oatmeal cookies.)

When we got home, I determined if he was going to go weak in the knees for cookies, they better be *my* cookies.

I never could get my oatmeal cookies as thick as the ones he bought in Oklahoma City, so I tweaked a couple recipes and made the whole batch into bars.

These Oatmeal Spice Bars have become the absolute favorite, he’ll-do-anything-for-me, treat! And my 9 yo has perfected the process now, so he gets twice as many as ever before. I’ve been meaning to share it here for a long time. I hope you try them, ‘specially if you have a man in the house that loves old-fashioned oatmeal cookies.

Oatmeal Spice Bars

• 1 cup butter, softened (2 sticks)
• 1 ¼ cups brown sugar, firmly packed
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 TB milk
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 ½ cups quick or old-fashioned oats

Heat oven to 375*F. Beat margarine and sugar until creamy. Add eggs, milk and vanilla. Beat well. Add flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix well. Stir in oats. Mix well. Press dough into bottom of ungreased 9×13” baking pan.

Bake about 35-40 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool and cut into bars, about 3 dozen yield.