Sweet Potato Chocolate Bars

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs medium sweet potatoes
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs
• 3 cups milk
• 2 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 2 cups pecan pieces
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate morsels

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 375°F.

2. 2

   Rub the sweet potatoes with the vegetable oil and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake until fork-tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Remove from the oven and let cool, then peel and mash in a large bowl.

3. 3

   Add to the mashed potatoes the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, vanilla, eggs, and 2 1/2 cups of the milk and mix well. Set aside.

4. 4

   Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

5. 5

   Combine the graham cracker crumbs and pecan pieces in a food processor and process for about 1 minute, to make a fine meal. With the motor running, gradually pour the melted butter through the feed tube and process for 1 minute. Transfer the crumb mixture to a 13 X 18-inch baking pan and, using your fingers, firmly press the crumbs evenly onto the bottom and up the sides of the pan.

6. 6

   Pour the sweet potato mixture into the crust and spread evenly with a rubber spatula.

7. 7

   Put the chocolate morsels and the remaining 1/2 cup milk in a medium-size saucepan over medium heat and stir constantly until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth. Spoon the chocolate in three rows, about 2 inches apart, lengthwise over the sweet potato mixture. Then, with a knife, make a zigzag pattern to marbleize the chocolate and the sweet potato mixture.

8. 8

   Bake until the edges are browned and the filling is set, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely. To serve, cut into bars.