Vegan "Starbucks" Oat Fudge Bars

Lets just say that you WILL NOT be missing the dairy-filled, store-bought Starbucks fudge bars anymore after you make these...These bars are decadent, chocolatey, and fudgey....everything you could ever want in a dessert! The oat crust is chewy and balances out the rich, chocolatey filling perfectly! They are somewhat healthier than the regular Starbucks version, but definitely not the healthiest thing you could eat. But I mean....it's dessert, so of course it's an exception.

As a kid I would always order Starbuck's oat fudge bars and a frappuccino and man....were they good at the time. I have no idea if Starbucks still sells these, but I'm sure some of you can relate to enjoying this treat at some point in your life. For some reason a few weeks ago I was thinking about these memories as a child and thought...hey, I should try and make my own version of these. I'd say they are just as good or even better, and they didn't harm any animals in the process. I'm sure we all have treats and meals we remember enjoying as kids and sometimes miss the joy it used to bring us! These bars definitely have me feeling nostalgic.

And I mean.....just look at them. If that doesn't have you drooling, something is seriously wrong with you.

The chocolate filling of this recipe calls for a vegan version of condensed milk, which may be difficult to find where some of you live. I was lucky to find a vegan coconut substitute at superstore, but I know there are soy-based and other brands out there as well. But, if you can't find this product or don't want to spend the extra money, you can make your own. All you need is a can of full-fat coconut milk and white sugar (or cane, coconut). You can find exact recipes for this online or on Pinterest and Youtube as well!

VEGAN OAT FUDGE BARS (STARBUCKS RECREATION)

Ingredients:

Oat Crust/Topping:

- 1/2 cup refined coconut oil, melted

- 1/2 cup brown sugar

- 1/3 cup maple syrup

- 2 tsp vanilla extract

- 1 cup white flour

- 1/2 tsp baking soda

- 1/2 tsp cinnamon

- 1/4 tsp salt

- 1 + 1/2 cup quick oats (or rolled oats)

Chocolate Filling:

- 3/4 cup vegan condensed milk (I used a canned coconut version)

- 1 + 1/3 cup vegan chocolate chips

- 2 tbsp vegan butter or margarine

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8 x 8 square baking pan with tin foil and grease it with cooking spray or coconut oil.

2. Add the melted coconut oil, brown sugar, maple syrup and vanilla extract to a large bowl. Whisk together until evenly combined and is dark brown sugary goodness.

3. Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt to the sugar mixture. Fold it in gently with a spatula until a thick dough forms.

4. Add the quick oats and fold them in with the spatula. It should resemble a thick, oatmeal cookie dough consistency when it is all combined.

5. Use 3/4 of the oatmeal cookie dough to line the bottom of the baking pan. This will be the oatmeal crust of the bars. Make sure it is evenly spread throughout the whole pan, flattening it with a spatula. Set the other 1/4 of the mixture to the side for now.

6. Heat a small pot on low heat. Add the condensed milk, chocolate chips and vegan butter. Stir the mixture with a spatula occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the pot and burning. Let the ingredients melt down until they are combined and the mixture is thick, chocolatey and smooth.

7. Remove from heat immediately once it is smooth with no lumps. Pour the chocolate filling on top of the oat crust in the baking pan. Spread it evenly over the oat filling with a spatula.

8. Use the leftover 1/4 of the oat mix to place on top of the chocolate filling in tablespoon-sized pieces. Don't sprinkle it too thin, you should still be able to see some of the chocolate filling.

9. Place the baking pan in the oven for 20-25 minutes. The oat pieces on top should be golden brown and somewhat set.

10. Let the bar cool in the baking pan for 2-3 hours at room temperature. Or let cool for 30ish minutes at room temperature and then place in the fridge for around 1 hour.

11. Once the chocolate filling is set and no longer warm and melty, cut the bar into small squares. You should get about 12 squares in total, depending how large you want them.

Serve as a dessert for a party or get-together with family and friends, they will be gone within minutes! Or......just eat them all yourself, because trust me....it's very tempting.