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Yellow Yaks: Oat-Fudge Bars
Did you know? In MCC 22, the Yellow Yaks were nicknamed The Golden Girls and were MCC's first all-female team!
Welcome to the stage, the Yellow Yaks themed dessert: Oat-Fudge bars!
I’ve had this idea knocking around in my head since last summer and now it’s done and I finally get to share it! This event is so much fun to watch and participate in as an audience member, so I really wanted to create something that everyone could enjoy!
Check out what I made for the Green Guardians, and, of course, thank you Scott Smajor.
(Check out the recipe below and huge thanks to Garbange for fixing the lighting in the picture! Inspired by these.)
Prep: 5 mins + cutting out the template Cook: 4h 50 mins* Overall: 5 hrs
* Includes cooling time (3 hrs).
Ingredients
For the oat layers:
½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted
½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
½ cup (100 g) packed brown sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp. (10 ml) vanilla extract
1 cup + 2 tbsp. (135 g) all-purpose flour
¼ tsp. (2 g) salt
½ tsp. (1 g) cinnamon (optional)
1 ⅓ cups (105 g) old-fashioned oats
For the chocolate fudge:
¾ cup + 2 tbsp. (170 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
¾ cup (175 ml) sweetened condensed milk
2 tbsp. (21 g) unsalted butter
¼ tsp. (2 g) salt
First, preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and with the oven rack in the middle of the oven.
In a large bowl whisk together the melted butter and sugars (picture 1).
Then, whisk in the egg and vanilla extract (picture 2).
Next, fold in the flour, salt, and cinnamon (picture 3).
Finally, fold in the oats (picture 4).
Lightly grease an 8x8-inch square pan. Cut parchment paper to fit the pan so that the bottom is covered and the parchment only hangs over two sides of the pan.
Then, spoon about a ¾ cup of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan and spread it so that it creates an even layer.
Set the remaining oatmeal mixture aside.
To make the fudge, add about ½-inch of water to a medium saucepan over medium-low heat and place a large glass or stainless steel bowl over top (picture 1). Make sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water!
Then, add the chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and butter to the bowl (picture 1). Gently stir the mixture as it melts.
Once the mixture has a smooth consistency (picture 2), remove the pan from the heat.
Pour the chocolate mixture over top of the oatmeal layer (picture 3).
NOTE: You can also melt the chocolate mixture in the microwave using a microwave safe bowl and stirring after 10 second increments until the mixture has a smooth consistency.
NOTE: Make sure to hold the bowl with a kitchen towel if using stainless steel - it really heats up!
To make the faces, first place the cut-out template overtop of the fudge layer (picture 1).
Then, fill the void areas with the remaining oat mixture that was set aside (picture 2) reserve a very small amount to fill in the areas where the nose was kept attached (the white spots).
Next, remove the template and fill in the areas where the nose was kept attached (picture 3).
Finally, bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes. The pieces of oatmeal cookie on top should look set.
After the bars are done baking, allow them to FULLY COOL IN THE PAN (about 3 hours).
TIP: I recommend cutting out the faces on the template with an x-acto knife and the pan border with scissors. Don’t forget to leave a little bit of the white area to keep the nose holes and nose bridge attached!
NOTE: You can cook the bars for longer if you want crispier, less chewy bars.
To cut out the faces, start by lifting the bars out of the pan using the overhanging parchment paper and place it on a cutting board (picture 1).
Slice into four pieces (picture 2).
Finally, print a second template and cut the face of one of the Yaks. Place it over top of each bar and use it as a guide to cut out the shape of each face (picture 3).
TIP: The ears are a difficult since they’re really thin on the cutout. I recommend letting all of that chocolate area be for the ears and to cut out the head starting at the oats. See the title and final picture as an example.
Ta-da! Time to enjoy your tasty treat!
Honestly, I love these so much, 10/10. Not only did the designs come out super well but they taste amazing.
I’m used to, and still kinda prefer, the ones at Starbucks that don’t include cinnamon (why I made adding it optional) but they’re fantastic either way!
Now, time to get energized and watch our favourite streamers compete in this MCC!
TEMPLATE:
Follow the following instructions to print this in the right size for an 8x8-inch pan (for Windows, sorry Apple users, idk if this works with mac):
Left click the image > Right click > Save image as… > Save
Right click the downloaded image > Open with > Paint
File > Print > Print > Select Print to PDF > Apply > Cancel
File > Print > Page Setup > Select Portrait > Set all margins to 0 > Ok
File > Print > Print to PDF > Print > Name the file > Save
Double left click the saved PDF > Select your browser of choice > Click the print button > Select your printer > Print
