Today is a dreary day. I look outside my window and grey skies greet me. I am battling a nasty cough that's been less than kind to me for the past few days. It seems like my nest is filled with a combination of sleepy and dopey … thankfully, grumpy has managed to stay away thus far. It's definitely time for a pick-me-up. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's time for something decadent!
My solution? Layered bars that are reminiscent of my favorite candy bars. A cookie base is coated in rich caramel and that's smothered in rich, dark chocolate. Even though there are three layers, these bars come together pretty quickly and easily. If you have a stand mixer, it's even faster since the cookie base is the most challenging thing to mix. The caramel forms easily with sweetened condensed milk and the top layer is literally a bag of chocolate chips that gets added while everything is still hot. Give it a minute and they are ready to be spread across the top! So you get a sweet treat that's easy to make, too. Things are already looking brighter!
Candy Bars
- 1 stick softened butter
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tablespoons softened butter
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 1 bag (12 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 375. Grease a 9×13 pan.
Stir the coconut, flour, brown sugar, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Add the softened butter and mix until a crumbly dough forms. Press the dough into the prepared 9×13 pan and bake for 15-18 minutes, until golden brown and lightly set. Let the crust cool.
Heat the sweetened condensed milk with the two tablespoons of butter and light corn syrup for about 5 minutes over medium-high heat. The liquid should turn a deep beige color. Pour and spread the sauce over the cooled crust and bake for an additional 12 minutes. The sauce will be a light golden brown color and there will be bubbles when you remove it from the oven.
Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the bars and return them to the oven for one minute. Using a heatproof spatula, spread the melted chocolate evenly over the bars. Cool in the refrigerator, cut into bars, and store at room temperature.
- Yields: 24 servings
- Preparation Time: 45 minutes