Tag Archives: cookie bars

Caramel Shortbread Bars

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Ruthanne

I was introduced to the buttery flaky happiness of shortbread cookies last fall, and I promised myself that I would return to them in a new recipe. Instead of baking them in cookie form, I baked these in a pan and then covered them with dulce de leche caramel and a chocolate glaze. They are AMAZINGLY good. Really. That good. Look at the pictures…. they are THAT GOOD.

You can make your own dulce de leche using a can of sweetened condensed milk (here’s my recipe for that)- or you can just buy a couple cans of it. I always find it in the Hispanic food section of my local grocery (they have it at WalMart there too). I bought cans for this creation- easy and sooooooo yummy.

Here’s how we made these! (printable recipe here)

INGREDIENTS:

Cookie base:

1 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoons baking powder

Toppings:

2 cans (13.4 oz. each) of dulce de leche I used La Lechera by Nestle
1 cup of dark chocolate chips
6 Tablespoons of butter

DIRECTIONS:

Place 1 cup of unsalted butter and powdered sugar into a mixing bowl and using a mixer, beat until light and fluffy (think buttercream frosting…!)
Add vanilla and mix until well combined.
Add flour and baking powder to butter/sugar mixture and beat on low speed until incorporated well (don’t over-beat this).
Press into a standard 9×13″ cake pan that’s been lightly sprayed with cooking spray.
Bake at 350F degrees for 12-15 minutes until slightly browned on top and firm at center.
Cool completely.
Pour cans of caramel over the top and smooth.
Melt chocolate chips with 6 Tablespoons of butter. Stir to mix well and pour over top of caramel layer. Smooth top.
Before top hardens, if desired, drizzle with white chocolate and pull lines back and forth with a toothpick to make design shown.
Chill for at least an hour before cutting.
Enjoy!!

My thoughts: YUM!!! I love shortbread, I love caramel, and I love chocolate! These are fabulous cookie bars! 🙂 Be sure to use dark chocolate chips to keep the “sweet” factor down. If you want just a touch of caramel, use one can of La Lechera instead of two. I wanted a big layer of caramel in my cookies- but you might want more cookie and less topping. I hope you get a chance to try these!!! ~Enjoy!!!

Other caramel deliciousness here: (click on a photo to see the recipe)

8 Comments

Key Lime Cookie Bars

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Ruthanne

These delicious cookie bars have white chocolate and coconut on the bottom and key lime pie filling with whipped cream on top. Such a refreshing treat for summer!

I love key lime pie. I love cookies. These smash those two worlds together into a sweet and tart summer dessert! Love it!

Here’s how we made it: (printable recipe)

INGREDIENTS:

Cookie base:

1 box of yellow cake mix
1/3c. oil
2 eggs
1 cup of white chocolate chips
1 cup of shredded coconut
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs

Key lime topping:

1 cup of lime juice
1 egg
1 can (14oz) of sweetened condensed milk
One tub of cool whip, or 2 cups of whipping cream, whipped.

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 350F degrees
In a mixing bowl, combine cake mix, oil and eggs well.
Add chips, coconut and graham crumbs, and mix together with clean hands until well- combined.
Press mixture into a greased cake pan and bake for 10 minutes at 350F degrees.
While this is baking, make key lime topping.
Mix together lime juice, condensed milk and one egg until well combined.
Pour over partially baked cookies and return to oven for another 20 minutes.
Cool completely and top with whipped topping, sprinkle with graham crumbs, if desired.
Chill until serving, but allow dessert to return to room temperature before serving.
Enjoy!

My thoughts: Sweet and fruity and white chocolatey….what is not to like here??? I love the sweet and tart balance of these little desserts and they just LOOK like summer! Enjoy! ~r

Other refreshing summer treats: (click on a photo to see the recipe)

6 Comments

Posted in Cookies, Pies and tagged coconut, coconut cookie bar, cookie bars, dessert, key lime, key lime cookie, key lime pie filling, recipe, summer, whiiped topping, white chocolate. Bookmark the permalink.

Peppermint Crunch Bars

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Ruthanne

Crispy bars of fudge and peppermint topped with a chocolate glaze.

(I told you I would have to try another recipe with those wonderful little Kraft Mallow Bits!!)

INGREDIENTS:

1 (8oz) package of Philadelphia Cream Cheese
4 c. semi sweet chocolate chips (divided)
4 c. crisp rice cereal
2 c. peppermint Mallow bits
12 T butter

DIRECTIONS:

Melt 2 c. of chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second increments until completely melted and smooth.
Soften cream cheese in microwave until smooth and creamy.
Combine soft cream cheese and melted chocolate.
Add crisp rice cereal and mallow bits(save a few to sprinkle on top!). Stir until completely coated with the chocolate mixture.
Press mixture into the bottom of a foil-lined 9 x 13 cake pan.
Melt remaining 2 c. of chocolate chips and butter in microwave until smooth.
Pour chocolate glaze over the top of peppermint crisps and sprinkle with remaining mallow bits.
Refrigerate for a few hours before cutting. To cut: remove from pan using foil and cut into squares