Browned Butter Oatmeal Raisin Walnut Cream Bars

Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a 9×13 pan and set aside.

In a small pot, cook butter over medium heat until milk solids sink to the bottom and melted butter turns a deep brown. (Be careful that you don’t burn it!) This is called browning the butter. Pour butter (not the solids) into a large bowl and mix with the sugar and vanilla. Set aside.

Into the same pot (remove the butter solids and discard), dump sweetened condensed milk, raisins, zest and juice. Mix everything together, and cook for 4-8 minutes over medium heat or until mixture seems to boil or “sizzle” and appears thickened. Remove from heat and set aside.

Into the bowl with the butter/sugar mixture add flour, baking soda, salt, oats and walnuts. Mix well. Take out 2 cups of this mixture and save it for the topping. Press remaining dough into the prepared pan. (It will appear rather sandy, don’t worry!) Spread the raisin/condensed milk mixture on top. Crumble the remaining 2 cups of dough on top of raisin mixture; press lightly to adhere.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until just barely brown. Cool (or don’t!) and serve.