Bar Cookies/Brownies (370 views)

Thought I would go ahead and begin this thread (ignore it if another one already exists and I missed it!!)

Mint Dark Chocolate Bars  (author unknown)


16 T (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (220 grams)
½ cup granulated sugar
¼ t salt
6 oz chopped bittersweet chocolate
14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
¼ t double strength (or ½ t regular) vanilla
1 cup any kind of mint chocolate chips (I really like using the Andes Baking Chips the best but have used some other Nestle’s I think)
Preheat oven to 350 F.

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter until creamy. Mix in flour, sugar and salt just until the mixture is crumbly. Scoop out about 2 cups of the mixture (reserving the rest of the mixture) and scatter it in the bottom of a 9" x 13" baking pan lightly coated with nonstick spray. Evenly pat the mixture down to form a crust - if it is sticky at all, use a piece of plastic wrap to help press down. Place the baking pan in the oven and bake until the edges have started to turn a golden brown color, about 10-15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, add the chopped bittersweet chocolate and sweetened condensed milk. Heat over low and stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla. Quickly pour the mixture over the hot crust and use an off-set spatula to evenly spread the mixture.

Combine the reserved crumbles and mint chocolate chips - evenly scatter over the top of the chocolate filling. Place back in the oven and bake until the center is set, about 25 - 30 minutes. Remove and place on a wire rack to cool completely before cutting into bars.

Makes about 28 bars.

Trish's Zucchini Bars (CLBB – Laura/Ljt2r)

Ingredients

For the topping and base:
4 cups AP flour
1/2 t salt
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter
dash cinnamon

For the zucchini:
4 cups sliced zucchini, peeled
2/3 cup lemon or lime juice
1/4 t nutmeg
1/2 t cinnamon
1 cup sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease an 11X17 jelly roll pan and set aside.

Simmer the peeled, sliced zucchini in the lemon juice until tender, being careful not to overcook. For me this was around 15 minutes. Add the sugar and spices and cook another 2-3 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Cream the butter and sugar in a stand mixer. Then whisk together the flour and salt and add it in. This will create a crumbly mixture. Measure out 1/2 cup of this mixture and stir it into the zucchini mix to thicken it.

Trish says to pat 1/2 of the remaining dry mixture into the bottom of the prepared jelly roll pan--for me it was more like 2/3 of the remaining dough. Bake for 10 minutes in the 350 F oven.

Spread the cooked zucchini mixture onto the baked crust. Crumble the remaining dry mixture over the filling and bake at 350 F for 30 minutes.

Let the cookies cool completely before slicing. For me, it helped to let them stand an additional hour or so--it helped them firm up.



Skinny Cranberry Bliss Bars  (These are beyond good, or so I thought!!!

Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 30 • Size: 1 bar • Old Points: 3 pts • Points+: 4 pts Calories: 149 • Fat: 5 g • Protein: 2 g • Carb: 24 g • Fiber: 0 g • Sugar: 17 g Sodium: 47 mg • Cholesterol: 5 mg

Ingredients:
•2 cups all purpose flour (Gold Metal)
•1/2 tsp baking soda
•1/4 tsp salt
•1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•2/3 cup granulated sugar
•2/3 cup brown sugar, unpacked
•1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
•2 large egg whites
•1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
•2 tsp vanilla extract
•2/3 cup white chocolate chips or chopped white chocolate
•1/3 cup dried cranberries, chopped

For the Frosting:

•8 oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
•1/2 cup powdered sugar
•2 ounces white baking chocolate, melted*
•1/3 cup dried cranberries, chopped
•1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:  See www.skinnytaste.com/skinny-cranberry-bliss-bars/ for directions...

And because I am a sucker for caramel

Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars
Author: Tiffany Serves: 18 Ingredients

•2½ sticks butter, divided
•1¼ cups flour
•¾ cup sugar, divided
•1 tablespoon milk
•3 tablespoons light corn syrup
•14 oz sweetened condensed milk
•¼ cup milk chocolate chips
•¼ cup white chocolate chips

Instructions and Picture:  See www.lecremedelacrumb.com/2013/10/chocolate-caramel-shortbread-bars.html/

I am always looking for good bar cookies/brownie recipes...what do you have to share?