Old Fashioned Chocolate Revel Bars have a rich chocolate fudge layer sandwiched between two buttery oatmeal cookie layers. 

This recipe is one of you probably can find in all sorts of church cookbooks across the Midwest and are a staple at large church potlucks. For those of you who have never had them, they are pretty rich. But the oatmeal cookie layer isn’t super sweet and balances out the richness of the fudge. They also freeze very well for those of you that want something you can make ahead. In fact, I think the texture improves on them after they have been frozen. 

How to Make Chocolate Revel Bars

The oatmeal cookie layer requires your standard baking ingredients like butter, sugar, flour and oatmeal. Before starting to make the recipe, you’ll want to check that you have the ingredients for the fudge layer on hand. You’ll need:

• a bag of chocolate chips,
• a can of sweetened condensed milk 
• vanilla
• butter 
• chopped nuts (optional)

For this batch, I didn’t add any nuts since that is what my husband likes. But they are especially good with walnuts or pecans. It helps cut the sweetness of the sweetened condensed milk. 

You’ll start by making the oatmeal cookie layer. It’s standard cookie bar recipe process. Cream the butter and sugar, add eggs and vanilla and stir in dry ingredients. Press half of the dough in the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan and set aside. 

To make the fudge layer. You’ll add the chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and butter to a saucepan and stir over low heat until everything is melted and smooth. Spread the chocolate fudge layer on the oatmeal cookie layer and then crumble the remaining oatmeal cookie dough over the top. Bake, cool and eat 🙂 OR freeze for later. 

How to freeze chocolate revel bars? 

As I mentioned above, I think these chocolate revel bars are better after being frozen. The seem to get softer after spending some time in the freezer. To freeze them, let them cool completely before slicing into bars. Then place in an airtight container with wax paper between the layers and freeze for up to several weeks. 

What are Revel Bars?

I was unable to find out the exact origin of the Revel Bar recipe, but they have been around for quite a few decades. Basically, a revel bar is an oatmeal cookie bar with a gooey or fudgy layer in the middle. The basic version is chocolate, but there are recipes for other flavors. Here are some of the classics: 

Peanut Butter Revel Bars from Shugary Sweets

Dulce De Leche Revel Bars from Crazy for Crust

Salted Caramel Revel Bars from Number 2 Pencil

Chocolate Revel Bars

Yield: 36 bars

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Additional Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Old Fashioned Chocolate Revel Bars have a rich chocolate fudge layer sandwiched between two buttery oatmeal cookie layers. 

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Ingredients

For the Oatmeal Crumb Layer

• 3 cups quick cooking oatmeal
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, room temperature
• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon vanilla

For the Chocolate Fudge Layer

• 1 (12 ounce) package chocolate chips
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional (pecans or walnuts are great)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Whisk together the oatmeal, flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl, set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until well combined. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet and mix until well combined. Set aside.
3. In a medium saucepan, combine the chocolate chips, condensed milk, and butter. Heat together over low heat until melted, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in nuts and vanilla.
4. Press half of the oat mixture in the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Spread the chocolate mixture on top. Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the top. Bake for 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool and cut into squares.
5. Store tightly covered at room temperature for several days or freeze up to several weeks.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 36 Serving Size: 1 bar
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 161 Total Fat: 8g Saturated Fat: 4g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 3g Cholesterol: 26mg Sodium: 103mg Carbohydrates: 21g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 11g Protein: 2g

Nutrition information may vary significantly based on ingredients used and portion sizes. We are not responsible the reliability of this data or your reliance on it. We are not responsible for the results of any recipe you try from this blog/website, Chocolatewithgrace.com. Your results may vary due to differences in ingredients, humidity, altitude, cooking temperatures, errors, or individual cooking abilities.

Check out some of my other favorite cookie bars: 

Cinnamon Roll Blondies

Apple Blondies

Cookie Dough Brownies