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7 Layer Bars with Popcorn and Kit Kat

April 16, 2013 by 24 Comments
Ever since I started blogging I knew that I wanted to have my very own DSLR camera.  I had the good fortune of using one last summer and fell in love with it.  Ever since then, I’ve scanned flyers, online deals and the buy and sell ads.  Unfortunately, the majority of them were out of my price range.   Until last week that is!  My wonderful, awesome husband came home and surprised me with a brand-new Canon Rebel T3i!  These 7 Layer Bars with Popcorn and Kit Kat were the first pictures I took!

7 Layer Bars with Popcorn & Kit Kat

I decided to make these 7 Layer Bars with my son on one of his snow-days off.  I was craving popcorn and some type of bar dessert so we decided to combine the two.  I also had a couple of Caramel Kit Kat bars in the cupboard so I threw it all together.  What a great decision that was!  The whole pan was gone by the next afternoon.

When I was looking up a basic 7 Layer Bar recipe, my son pointed out it only had 6 layers.  I wanted it to be a true 7 Layer Bar and because my son was helping me, he wouldn’t let me stop at just 6!  Why call it 7 layers if you’re only going to have 6, right?

7 Layer Bars with Popcorn & Kit Kat

These bars turned out better than I expected.  They had the perfect sweet/salty combination that I was craving and I even turned some of my skeptic family members into fans of these bars.  My brother, who’s not a big sweet fan, had two pieces!  This recipe, I’m sure, will be made many more times in my house!

7 Layer Bars with Popcorn & Kit Kat

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7 Layer Bars with Popcorn and Kit Kat

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Yield: 20 bars

A perfect sweet & salty dessert bar that incorporates popcorn and Kit Kat bars.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 bag of microwavable popcorn, butter flavor (you'll only need about 3/4 of the bag)
  • 8 sticks of Caramel Kit Kat bars, chopped
  • 1 cup flaked, sweetened coconut
  • 1 cup toasted pecan pieces
  • 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a 9X13 pan with cooking spray and set aside.
In a small bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs together with melted butter and pour into 9X13 pan. Press crumb mixture into the bottom of pan.
Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture.
Sprinkle popcorn over sweetened condensed milk until covered.
Sprinkle Kit Kat bars over popcorn.
Sprinkle coconut over Kit Kat bars.
Sprinkle toasted pecan pieces over coconut.
Sprinkle chocolate chips over pecan pieces.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.
Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. Loosen from sides while still warm.
Cut into bars and enjoy!
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Filed Under: Squares & Bars Tagged With: 7 layer bars, chocolate chips, coconut, graham crakers, Kit Kat, pecans, popcorn, sweetened condensed milk

White Chocolate Biscoff Cookie Bars

April 4, 2013 by 27 Comments
Since I bought a couple of jars of Biscoff when I was in the US, I thought I better make something with it instead of eating it straight out of the jar!  I knew I wanted to incorporate white chocolate because I thought it would go perfect with Biscoff.  So, I made these White Chocolate Biscoff Cookie Bars, which I ate straight out of the pan……instead of the jar!

White Chocolate Biscoff Cookie Bars

When I first took them out of the oven they were still a little gooey in the middle.  I ended up putting them back in for another 10 minutes and they were perfect.  I couldn’t resist eating all the crunchy edges while they were still warm.  I really had to force myself to walk away from the pan, otherwise I could have ate the whole thing.  Seriously!

White Chocolate Biscoff Cookie Bars

I’m not sure my kids liked them as much as I did because I noticed that there’s still two pieces left.  Perfect – more for me!  Once those two pieces are gone, I guess I’m going to have to go back to eating Biscoff straight out of the jar!  Oh, darn!  There could be worse things! :)

White Chocolate Biscoff Cookie Bars1

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White Chocolate Biscoff Cookie Bars

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 12 bars

Chewy cookies bars filled with creamy Biscoff and White Chocolate Chips.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and then cooled slightly
  • 1 egg
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. vanilla
  • Heaping 1/2 cup of Biscoff
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 1/4 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • pinch of salt (optional)
  • 1 pkg. (save 1/4 cup for the top) White Chocolate Chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F.
Line an 8X8 pan with foil, spray with cooking spray and set aside.
In a medium size bowl, mix together flour, baking soda and optional salt. Set aside.
In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, blend cooled butter with egg, then add sugars and vanilla and mix until smooth and creamy.
Add in the Biscoff and cinnamon and blend well.
Slowly add the dry ingredients and stir until just incorporated.
Stir in White Chocolate Chips.
Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth with a spatula or the back of a spoon.
Once batter is smooth, pour the reserved 1/4 cup of White Chocolate Chips on top.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean (or almost clean, since you may hit chocolate).
Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Averie Cooks
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Filed Under: Squares & Bars Tagged With: bars, Biscoff, , cookie, white chocolate

Strawberry and Cream S’more Bars

March 5, 2013 by 19 Comments
A few months ago I picked up a bag of strawberry marshmallows and didn’t have anything in mind to make with them.  I thought maybe we could toast them over a campfire but figured they would probably go stale before we had a chance to do that!  So, I threw a bunch of stuff together and made these tasty Strawberry and Cream S’more Bars!  Strawberry & Cream S'more Bars
The last time I made bars using flavored marshmallows was when I had a bag of Cinnamon Bun Marshmallows.  I tried to make Cinnamon Bun Rice Krispies but they turned out rock-hard that no one ate them and they ended up in the garbage.  I still don’t know what I did wrong.
When I started to make these bars I was hoping the same thing wouldn’t happen.  Well, lucky for me, and you, it didn’t!  These bars are soft, chewy, and deeelicious!  They didn’t last too long in my house!

Strawberry & Cream S'more Bars

 I also had about 1/2 cup of mini fruit marshmallows that I threw in at the end just to use them up but to also give the bars some extra texture.  I would definitely make these again and now I can experiment with different flavors knowing that these turned out so good!  Oh, the possibilities!

Strawberry & Cream S'more Bars

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Strawberry and Cream S’more Bars

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 15 bars

A gooey blend of strawberry marshmallows, white chocolate and Golden Grahams cereal. The perfect snack with your afternoon tea!

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 2 squares of Baker's White Chocolate
  • 1 bag of Strawberry Marshmallows
  • 1 box of Golden Grahams cereal
  • 1/2 cup mini fruit-flavored marshmallows
  • 1 Cookies & Cream chocolate bar

Instructions

Prepare a 9X13 pan by greasing it lightly with butter. Set aside.
In a large saucepan, on low heat, melt the butter and white chocolate. Add the bag of marshmallows and continuously stir until all the marshmallows have melted. Remove from heat.
Add the box of Golden Grahams cereal and mix until cereal is evenly coated. Stir in the 1/2 cup of fruit marshmallows. Pour mixture into pan and flatten with the back of a spoon that been greased with butter or margarine.
Once bars are cooled, melt the Cookies & Cream chocolate bar in a microwave-safe dish for about 20-30 seconds and drizzle over top the entire pan. Let chocolate cool and harden.
Cut into bars and enjoy!
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Filed Under: Squares & Bars Tagged With: cookies and cream, Golden Grahams cereal, S'more Bars, strawberry marshmallows, white chocolate

Banana Caramel Granola Bars

February 28, 2013 by 46 Comments
Do you ever need an on-the-go snack that fills you up and it’s healthy?  Well, I’ve got these Banana Caramel Granola Bars that just might do the trick!  Minus the caramel sauce if you really want them healthy, but I’m not that disciplined so caramel sauce it was!

Banana Caramel Granola Bars

In just over a week our family will be on vacation so I’ve been busy packing, organizing, and thinking of snacks to take for the airport.  With 3 kids, there is always one them that’s hungry, thirsty or bored.  That’s why I’m making up some on-the-go snacks to have on hand so that when they ask for a $5 muffin and a $2 bottle of water, I’ll be ready!  Well, the water will have to come from the fountain since we can’t take it past security, but the food I can bring.  

Banana Caramel Granola Bars1

 Ever since I saw Jessica’s (from A Kitchen Addiction) Peanut Butter & Dark Chocolate Chip No Bake Granola Bites I thought they would be the perfect thing to make for the airport.  So, those are next on my list this week!  The reason why I went for these this time was because my kids can still take these to school with them in the meantime.   No peanut butter = school friendly!  Plus I had too many bananas in my freezer that needed to be used up.

Banana Caramel Granola Bars2

 

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Banana Caramel Granola Bars

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Yield: 14-16 bars

These granola bars are healthy and filling. Perfect for an on-the-go snack!

Ingredients

  • 2 ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 egg whites
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 4 Tbsp. Organic Sprouted Chia & Flax Seed Powder (or just chia or flax seeds)
  • 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
  • 1/4 caramel sauce

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a medium bowl add the bananas, applesauce, honey, egg whites, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. Mix well until all ingredients are combined.
In a separate bowl, mix together the rolled oats and the chia/flax seed mix. Pour into wet mixture and combine.
Pour mixture on paper-lined cookie sheet. Using a spoon, flatten the mixture in to a rectangle and 1/2 inch thick. I also used the inside of my hand to smooth out the edges as I worked the spoon along.
Sprinkle the 2 Tbsp. of brown sugar evenly on top. Bake for 30 minutes.
Remove from oven and let cool completely.
Once granola bars are cooled, spread caramel sauce evenly over top and enjoy!
Recipe adapted from The Svelte Gourmet
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Some other healthy granola bars you might enjoy:
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Granola Bars by Averie Cooks
 Almond Joy Raw Bars (Gluten-Free Heart Healthy) by Beard & Bonnet
Fruit & Nut Granola Bars (Gluten Free) by Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks
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German Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars

February 1, 2013 by 21 Comments

German Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars by asweetbaker.com

Happy Friday!

Have you ever tried a dessert that you just couldn’t stop eating?  Well, for me, these bars are it!

My sister was here on the weekend and we were both craving something with chocolate and I wanted something with pecans and coconut.  That’s when we came across this recipe and knew we HAD to make it.  Thanks to Jennifer over at Bake or Break, who’s a big fan of baking with pecans too, I found this recipe on her site.

First, the recipe starts with a chocolate shortbread crust.  When you take the crust out of the oven you immediately sprinkle chocolate chips on top and let them melt.  Chocolate on top of chocolate!  Perfect!

German Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars by asweetbaker.com4

After the chocolate crust is cooled that’s when you add the gooey, perfect topping.  There is 3 cups of pecans in the topping so there’s no spot left bare!  At first I was worried that the topping would be too sweet but once I bit into these bars there was no going back.

You have to make these bars!  The recipe is made in a 9X13 and I think I ate half the pan myself.  Really….I did!

If you do end up making them, make sure you don’t have company coming over because, I promise you, you won’t want to share!

German Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars by asweetbaker.com2

Recipe slightly adapted from Bake or Break, originally from Southern Living

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German Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars

Rating: 51

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Yield: 16 servings

These bars are filled with gooey chocolate, pecans, and coconut. A perfect treat to have with a cup of tea or coffee.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups pecan halves
  • 1 & 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup icing sugar
  • 3/4 cup cold butter, cubed
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 1 & 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F.
Spread pecans evenly on a cookie sheet with parchment paper and toast for about 8-10 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Remove pecans and let cool.
Prepare a 9X13 pan by lining it with foil (letting it hang over the edges) and lightly grease. Set aside.
In a medium size bowl, whisk together flour, icing sugar, and cocoa. Add the cold butter and combine with a pastry blender or food processor until it resembles coarse meal. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes.
Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle milk chocolate chips over top crust. Allow to cool completely.
In a stand mixer, add eggs and beat lightly. Add brown sugar, corn syrup, and melted butter and mix until smooth. Remove bowl and add in pecans and coconut, hand stir until combined. Pour over crust.
Bake for about 30-35 minutes or until edges are golden and filling is set.
Remove from oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.
Refrigerate for about an hour or overnight to allow bars to set.
Using the foil overhang, remove bars from pan and remove foil. You can set the bars back in the pan for storage or set on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut into squares.
Enjoy!
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Filed Under: Squares & Bars Tagged With: chocolate, coconut, pecans
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