12 Sweets of Christmas: #5 - Oatmeal Brittle Recipe

Quite a few years ago, and I really can't remember when, I came up with the crazy idea of not just making one or two different kinds of cookies or candies to give away during the Christmas season, but to make 12 different varieties, now known as the "12 Sweets of Christmas".  Once Thanksgiving had ended and the tree had been put up I begin the monumental task of mixing, baking, dipping and wrapping up the 12 goodies into tins to give as gifts to family and friends.  Sometimes I wonder what I have gotten myself into, but everyone seems to love my tins packed full of goodies and I think I would have a revolt on my hands if I failed to follow through on my yearly tradition.  

This year I figured I would share all my recipes and photos of each of the sweets and here is #5.

#5 Oatmeal Brittle

I found this recipe in a local magazine which, I believe, is no longer in publication.  This recipe is my oldest child's favorite of all of the candies I make for the Christmas season.  I really should make it more than once a year as it is quite tasty.

Oatmeal Brittle

2 C Oats (quick or old fashioned)

1 ½ C Flour (I use whole wheat)

½ t Baking Powder

-mix

1 C Butter, cold, cut into pieces

-mix until crumbly

1 C Powdered Sugar

2/3 C Brown Sugar

1 ½ t Water

1 t Vanilla

-add and pat onto jellyroll pan

-bake 22 to 25 minutes at 350 until golden brown

2 C Chocolate Chips

2/3 C White Chocolate or Almond Bark

-sprinkle chocolate chips and white chocolate on and let melt, use a knife to make a design

-let cool and break into pieces

Mix the first 8 ingredients according to directions and sprinkle evenly onto a jellyroll pan.

Pat the dough into the pan and bake 22-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Sprinkle on the chocolate chips, let them melt and then "frost" the brittle.  In the past I have always used melted almond bark leftover from my other candy making, but this year I thought I would add the white chips (I figured I might as well follow a recipe according to the directions for once).  Big mistake!  The chips never melted even after placing the pan in the oven for quite a few minutes.  So I melted some almond bark and drizzled it on.

The last part is my favorite - take a knife and cut in the marble-like streaks.  There is no right or wrong way to do it as the end result is always pretty.  This year my oatmeal brittle was a bit lumpy due to the white chips not melting, but it still tasted fine.

Once the chocolate has cooled and hardened, break the brittle into pieces.