Chocolate Revel Bars
These Chocolate Revel Bars are a classic, heart-warming treat that layers a thick, buttery oat dough with a rich, fudge-like chocolate center. Inspired by traditional Amish baking, these bars are filling and satisfying without being “knock-you-down” sweet, making them a perfect companion for a cup of coffee or an afternoon snack.
A Treat Worth Keeping a Secret
Lately, I’ve finally gotten around to trying a few recipes I’ve had on my “must make” list for well over a decade; today is one of them. I first read about Revel bars shortly after I got married, when I was reading an Amish romance. I’m pretty sure it was a Beverly Lewis one. If you’ve never checked out any of her books but enjoy reading, I think you’ll be very pleased. I love it when I can read something just for the pure pleasure (not because it is required as part of my job) and come out of it with a little wisdom to add to who I am.
I don’t remember which book this was, but in the story, the main character got her family out of the house so she could make these secretly as a surprise for her mother’s birthday. I remember thinking, “Now those must be some kind of good.” I sure wasn’t disappointed.
The thing I like about them is that they are sweet in the center, but have a nice balance. Of course, with the hearty dough, they are filling as well, which is another thing I really like in my cookies and treats, because you get into a lot less trouble that way! You might also be interested in my delicious No-Bake Scotcharoos!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Vanilla
- Brown sugar (light or dark)
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Baking soda
- Eggs
- Butter
- Salt
- Quick oats
- Chocolate chips
- Instant coffee granules (optional)
Note: I added the instant coffee part in order to help me get my recommended daily requirement of caffeine. It was delicious and just added a hint of somethin’ somethin’ to the bars, but all of the original recipes leave it out, so you just do whatever is easiest for you here. The bars will be yummy either way.
How to Make Chocolate Revel Bars
1. Cream the Base
Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a large mixing bowl, cream together your butter (minus those 2 tablespoons) and brown sugar until it’s nice and fluffy.
2. Mix the Dough
Add in your eggs, vanilla, flour, baking soda, salt, and oats. Beat the tar out of it until it’s well combined.
Once you’ve got that all creamified, add in your other dough ingredients.
Take 2/3 of this mixture and pat it into the bottom of a greased 9×13 baking dish.
3. Melt the Fudge
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine your chocolate chips, the sweetened condensed milk, the 2 tablespoons of butter you saved, and the coffee granules.
Here is a top view of the bowl, in case you just really wanted to see it.
Heat in 30-second bursts, stirring in between, until it’s smooth and dreamy.
4. Layer and Drop
Pour that chocolate goodness over your bottom crust and spread it all the way to the edges. Take the remaining 1/3 of your dough and drop little clumps of it all over the top of the chocolate. It doesn’t have to be perfect; the chocolate peeking through is what makes them look so good!
Spread that over your crust. Isn’t that pretty?
5. Bake to Golden
Pop them in the oven for 25–30 minutes. You’re looking for the oat crumbles on top to be a light, golden brown. Let them cool entirely on the counter before you start cutting.
These bars stay fresh for up to a week in an airtight container, and they actually get a little fudgier by the second day. They also travel really well and are perfect treats to send to work, school, or as gifts for friends.
Of course, you’ll need to sample a couple yourself first!
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter or margarine I use whichever I have
- 2 cups light or dark brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2-1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups quick oats can use old fashioned
Filling:
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips can use milk chocolate
- Optional: 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
Instructions
- Take 2 tablespoons of butter and set aside to use in filling.
- In large mixing bowl, place remaining butter and brown sugar. Beat with an electric mixer until creamy. Add all other dough ingredients and mix again until well combined.
- Pat 2/3 of mixture into bottom of greased 9×13 pan.
- Place all filling ingredients (including the 2 tablespoons of butter you set aside in step one) in a microwave safe bowl and cook at 30 second intervals, stirring after each, until chocolate is completely melted. If adding instant coffee granules, stir well to make sure coffee granules are dissolved. Pour over crust and spread to the sides.
- Drop remaining dough in teaspoon sized drops over the chocolate.
- Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes, or until lightly browned on top. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.
Christy, I made these last night and got them in the mail to our grandson in college this morning. They are DELICIOUS and, as you said, they were so easy to pack, etc. I know he will enjoy them, as will the other kids he shares his cookies with when I send them.
I have not read any of Beverly Lewis’ books but plan to get one, per your recommendation.
Have you read any of Karen Kingsbury’s books? She is a Christian writer and her books just grab you from the beginning and Jesus Christ is woven throughout the story. Very inspirational.
Thanks for all you share with us.
Christy, I love your recipes and that’s so great to hear that you like to read Amish fiction too. I like the fact that is romantic but not trashy like so much of the media today. The Amish also a great cooks too and I like the way food runs through the stories.
I love your blog and have made a few things with awesome success; i made these tonight but there so gooey 🙁 hard to cut up and keep pretty … they taste awesome any suggestions i let them cool for 3 hrs
I have two addictions…coffee and Korean Dramas. I watch most of mine on Drama Fever. Some that I have really enjoyed and would recommend are ‘Secret Garden’, ‘King 2 Hearts’, ‘You’re Beautiful’, and ‘Boys Over Flowers’. I would also suggest that you go over to the website My Drama List and create an account. It is an excellent way to keep up with which shows you have watched and/or want to watch. Believe me, after awhile it gets hard to keep track of what you’ve watched!!
P.S. If you want to try some authentic Korean food, check out Korea House restaurant in Huntsville. It’s a little ‘hole in the wall’ restaurant on Jordan Lane. It’s clean and the food is good.
Thanks to your post and some suggestions from a friend, I have started watching Korean dramas. I’m totally hooked! The one I’m watching right now is Boys Over Flowers (sometimes called Boys Before Flowers). I also have Secret Garden and Coffee Prince on my list of dramas to watch in the future. 🙂
Ha HA! I am laughing at the thought of the Amish Korean lady coming out of ‘Bama! 🙂 I can see some Amishman from up North trying to figure out your ancestry and which Jakie’s Eli’s Sarah you come from! 🙂
OMG – this post killed me, I literally laughter out loud a – a southern blonde belle who loves Korean dramas and Amish novels. The combination will never be duplicated on another blog! I’m Korean, adopted by a Caucasian family and raised in rural Kentucky. In fact, I discovered Southen Plate 3+ years ago looking for a chicken and dumpling recipe that tasted like Cracker Barrel’s. since then, I’ve tried and loved everything from the ham, slow cooker pork roast, stuffed peppers, fried apples and chewy chocolate cookies. I’ve even bought the sweet Korean rice you’ve recommended – and I bought your first cookbook, and you signed it with a lovely personal message:) keep up the good work, I love how you haven’t lost touch with any glitz or artifice!