Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars with Plum Filling

Yield 2 dozen bars
Preparation Time: 20 minutes plus baking

2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter (2 sticks), room temperature
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup red plum jam

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Place the flour, oats, baking soda and salt in a bowl and set aside.

Use an electric mixer to combine the brown sugar and butter until fluffy.

Add the flour/oat mixture and stir. The dough will be very crumbly.

Place 2 cups of the dough mixture into a bowl.

Add the chocolate chips to the bowl and stir.

Press the remaining dough into the bottom of an 11 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish.

Spread the dough with the jam.

Sprinkle the flour/chocolate chip mixture over top.

Bake for 30 minutes or until the top begins to look golden brown.

Cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into 1 ½-inch squares.