White Chip Lemon Streusel Bars












1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 tsp freshly grated lemon peel
2 cups (12 oz package) white chocolate chips, divided
2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups regular rolled or quick-cooking oats
3/4 cup pecan pieces
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 tsp shortening

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease 13x9x2 inch baking pan.  Combine sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice and lemon peel in medium bowl; set aside.  Measure out 1/4 cup and 1/3 cup white chips; set aside.  Add remaining white chips to lemon mixture.
2. Beat butter and brown sugar with electric mixer on medium speed in large bowl until well blended.  Stir together flour, oats, pecans, baking powder and salt; add to butter mixture, blending well.  Set aside 1 & 2/3 cups oats mixture.  Add egg to remaining oats mixture, blending until crumbly; press on to bottom of prepared pan.  Gently spoon lemon mixture on top, spreading evenly.  Add reserved 1/3 cup white chips to reserved oats mixture.  Sprinkle over lemon layer, pressing down lightly.
3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool in pan on wire rack.  Place remaining 1/4 cup white chips and shortening in small microwave safe bowl.  Microwave at medium 30 seconds or until chips are melted and mixture is smooth when stirred.  Drizzle over baked bars.  Allow drizzle to set; cut into bars.

Tips/Tricks/Notes

My only tip with this recipe is to make sure to very carefully read the recipe before you even start.  I found these bars to be a little more complex then many other things I have baked as there are many layers... meaning many steps!  Also, these bars are best served after chilled in the fridge for a while.  I found if they are kept and eaten at room temperature they are very messy, but if kept in the fridge you are saved from the mess!

The picture seen above is an actual picture I took of my completed bars, it is not taken from the internet or played with in anyway.