Chocolate Revel Bars Using local Chocolate

Hi everyone! I have been on an extended hiatus for the last four months. Yeah, I know, way too long.  This is my first post since October. But I'm back with a time tested recipe I whip up every time the kids need to put on some extra weight. Kidding!

This is my no fail Revel Bars recipe. Why no-fail? Because I've tried it several times and made several revisions to make them as pleasing to the budget conscious as well as the health buff. I've made changes to the preparation procedure to make it less tedious, because believe me, the first time I tried it, I almost gave up! (Slicing the bars and getting them on another tray is most challenging). But of course because the end-product is always delicious, I simply had to make adjustments, lucky you!

Several years back I tried everything to get my hands on a recipe like this. Believe me, I've scoured the net some years back and the recipe was nowhere to be found. So, once while I was visiting a salon for a hair appointment, lo and behold! the magazine I was reading had it and then some. Needless to say, the recipe alone was priceless, the hairstyle didn't even matter anymore.

Anyhow, I've always used local unrefined chocolate coins ( Tableya ) because it is the epitome of dark chocolate. Tableya  is locally available in wet markets and supermarkets. They are best served as Sikwate, a rich, thick chocolate drink that most Filipinos love to have for breakfast paired with Puto Maya,  glutinous rice dessert cooked with coconut milk and ginger in Mindanao. In Luzon, the chocolate concoction is known as Tsokolate. 

probably homemade Tableya "coins"

Commercial version bearing the same name

Its most common appearance

Trivia: in olden times, Tsokolate is prepared  as Tsokolate-Eh or Tsokolate-Ah. The difference between the two? In Spanish times, and based on the novel " Noli Me Tangere" ( Touch Me Not by Jose Rizal, national hero); Tsokolate-eh is to be served rich, thick and luxurious for esteemed guests. But for unwelcome visitors, a watered-down, diluted version as a non-verbal expression of 'go away.'

Pure Tsokolate or Sikwate without cream, ( the banana wrapped parcel is puto maya)

Sikwate with milk served with Tapul ( red, speckled) puto maya

Sikwate/Tsokolate served with white Puto Maya

You can, of course substitute with milk chocolate or semi-sweet or bittersweet or dark chocolate. You can even use cocoa powder. Ready to wow them?

My Revel Bars seconds before they disappeared into the mouths of the kids

 Sorry, I wasn't quick enough to get a picture of the whole batch, the pieces kept getting snatched even as I was slicing, lol!

CHOCOLATE REVEL BARS

INGREDIENTS: 

Preparation Time: 20-25 minutes

Baking time : 30-45 minutes

Yield: 2 dozen bars

1 cup butter

2 cups packed brown sugar ( you can reduce to just 1)

2 eggs

2 tsps. vanilla

2-1/2 cups All Purpose Flour

1 tsp baking soda

3 cups rolled oats  ( for extra fiber!)

3/4 -1 can condensed milk

6 Tableya coins or 300 grams dark chocolate or 1 cup cocoa powder

2 Tbsp butter

PROCEDURE:

1. In a bowl, cream the butter until soft and add the sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla.

2. Combine the flour  and baking soda then add to the mixture together with the oatmeal. Blend well.

3. In a saucepan, combine the milk, chocolate and the 2 Tbsp. butter.Heat until melted. Remove from heat and cool slightly while you spread the batter on the pan.

4. Line a 9 x 13 baking pan with aluminum foil or non-stick baking paper  on the bottom and sides and spread 2/3 of the batter. Spread the chocolate mixture on top of the batter using a spatula, making sure everything is covered in chocolate. Crumble the remaining 1/3 of the oatmeal batter on top.

5. Bake in a preheated oven 350 F for 30 to 45 minutes or until set. Cool slightly before cutting into bars. ( Use a non-stick or plastic knife to facilitate cutting or you'll be sweating like mad ).

These bars are as attractive as they are deliciously chewy, a different take from the usual brownies and blondies. Serve it to kids and kids at heart at parties and celebrations because it is going to get noticed. Why not whip up some for Valentines?

If you find that two cups of brown sugar is too sweet for your comfort, ( I know, right? ) simply adjust to your preferences next time.

excuse the backdrop I was trying to capture the gooey chocolate

Let me know if you tried this. I'll be posting more Valentine sweets and treats before the day, watch for the next posts!