Category Archives: bars

Blueberry Crumble Bars

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  • 1 ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats (gluten-free if necessary)
  • 1 cup flour, such as all-purpose or oat (see note)
  • ½ cup brown sugar, lightly packed
  • ½ cup butter, melted*
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, optional
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt

Filling:

  • 3 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds (see note)
  1. Make crumble. Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare crumble mixture by adding rolled oats, oat flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and ginger to a mixing bowl. Melt butter and stir into dry ingredients until well combined.
  2. 1st Bake: Spread ⅔ of the crumble mixture into a parchment lined 8×8″ baking dish. Use the back of a spoon or the bottom of a measuring cup to firmly press the crumble into the dish. Bake the bottom layer of crumble in the oven at 350F for 12 minutes.
  3. Make blueberry filling. Add blueberries, lemon juice, and maple syrup to a small saucepan. While stirring often, bring the blueberry filling to a low boil over medium heat. The blueberries will become juicy.
  4. Stir in cornstarch and chia seeds to the juicy blueberries. Let filling simmer for about 10 more minutes. This helps thicken the blueberry sauce to create a spreadable blueberry jam to layer in our crumble bars. If the filling is too thin, add another teaspoon of cornstarch or chia seeds.
  5. Assemble! Once the bottom layer of crumble is baked and your filling is ready, spread all the homemade blueberry jam and then sprinkle the remaining ⅓ of the crumble mixture on top!
  6. 2nd Bake: Bake the blueberry bars at 350F for 20-22 minutes. Let cool completely before slicing for neat and even bars. Store in the fridge for 5-7 days or on the countertop for 2-3 days.

Pecan Pie Bars from slowroasteditalian.com

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Crust
1 1/4 pounds (5 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Topping
1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter
1 cup light corn syrup
3 cups light brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 pounds pecans, chopped

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

For the crust, beat the butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, until light, approximately 3 minutes. Add the eggs and the vanilla and mix well. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix the dry ingredients into the batter with the mixer on low speed until just combined.  Press the dough evenly into an ungreased 18 by 12 by 2-inch baking sheet, making an edge around the edge like you would a pie crust . It will be very sticky; sprinkle the dough and your hands lightly with flour. Bake for 15 minutes, until the crust is set but not browned. Allow to cool.

For the topping, combine

the butter, corn syrup, and brown sugar in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook over low heat until the butter is melted, using a wooden spoon to stir. Raise the heat and boil for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream and pecans. Pour over the crust, trying not to get the filling between the crust and the pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the filling is set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold. Cut into bars and serve.

Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars from 12tomatoes.com/

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  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups (mini) semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 package (10 oz.) soft caramels, unwrapped
  • Preheat oven to 325°F and line a 9×13 inch baking pan with aluminum foil. Coat foil with non-stick spray.
  • Combine the sweetened condensed milk and unwrapped caramels in a medium sauce pot and place over medium-low heat. Stir frequently until the caramels melt and the mixture is smooth and a medium-dark amber color. Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt and mix together.
  • In a large bowl or mixer, beat together butter and sugars until combined. Then add eggs one by one, mixing after each addition.
  • Add in vanilla extract, then gradually mix in dry ingredients until just combined.
  • Fold in chocolate chips, then press half of the cookie dough into foil-lined baking dish.
  • Pour the caramel mixture over the cookie dough, and spoon the remaining cookie dough over the top taking care that the spoonfuls are evenly distributed across the whole dish.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and the edges have begun to pull away from the sides of the pan.
  • Remove from oven and let cool completely. Lift bars out of pan by the edges of the foil and cut into bars. Serve and enjoy!

Almond Joy Magic Cookie Bars from www.eatcakefordinner.net/

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Cookie Crust:
1/2 c. unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 c. light brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. chocolate graham cracker crumbs (not quite 9 full-sheet crackers)
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Layers:
3/4 c. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 3/4 c. shredded sweetened coconut
1/2 c. sliced almonds
about 12 oz. sweetened condensed milk (not quite one can)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang for easy removal and spray with cooking spray; set aside.  For the Crust: In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar, using a hand mixer, until smooth and creamy.  Add the vanilla and egg and mix until combined.  Add the flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt and mix until fully combined.  Stir in the chocolate chips.  Press graham cracker dough evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking pan.  Bake for 5 minutes.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with the mini chocolate chips (reserving a small amount), coconut and sliced almonds.  Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over the top and sprinkle with reserved mini chocolate chips.  Remember the pan is hot and return to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until set (I baked mine for about 26 minutes).  Loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil halfway through baking time to prevent the coconut and almonds from browning and rotate the pan in the oven.

Allow to cool at room temperature for 30 minutes and then stick in the refrigerator to cool all the way through (the bottom of the pan will be cold).   Cut into 9-12 squares.  DO NOT cut the bars while they are still warm or the gooey filling will run all over the place.

Jenn’s Notes: I cut mine into 9 bars, but since they are pretty rich, I think 12 bars would be perfect.

Lemon-Ricotta Bars from food52

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3

For the Crust
1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon lemon zest
3/4 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), cut into 1-inch pieces, slightly softened plus extra for greasing pan

For Lemon-Ricotta Filling
8 oz (1 cup) fresh whole milk Ricotta, drained
4 large eggs, beaten
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons lemon zest
2/3 cup lemon juice from 3 to 4 large lemons, strained
1/4 teaspoon salt

To make the crust: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Using a pastry brush, lightly butter a 13-by-9-inch baking dish and line with one sheet parchment paper. Butter paper, then lay second sheet crosswise over it. Pulse flour, confectioner’s sugar, cornstarch, lemon zest and salt in food processor. Add butter and process to blend; then pulse until mixture is pale yellow and resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle mixture into lined pan and, press firmly with fingers into even layer over entire pan bottom and about 1/2-inch up sides. Refrigerate for 30 minutes, and then bake until light golden brown, about 20 minutes. To make the filling: Whisk ricotta, eggs, sugar, and flour in medium bowl, then stir in lemon zest, juice, and salt to blend well. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Stir filling mixture before pouring into warm crust. Bake until filling feels firm when touched lightly, about 30 minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack; cool to room temperature, at least 2 hours. Transfer to cutting board, fold paper down, and cut into bars, wiping knife or pizza cutter clean between cuts. Dust with confectioner’s sugar.

Makes 18, 2-inches squares