Oatmeal Carmelitas

Oatmeal Carmelitas

Prep: 30 min.
Cook: 30 min.
Cool: 2 hours
Yield: 36 bars

Crust:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups quick cooking oats
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cup margarine or butter, softened (2 1/2 sticks)

Filling:
1 12.5 oz jar caramel ice cream topping (1 cup) (can also use other ingredients like apricot preserves)
3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
16 oz pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips (1 cup)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

To make crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13×9 pan. In a large bowl, combine the flour, oatmeal, brown sugar, baking soda, salt and butter. Mix at low speed until crumbly. Reserve half of crumb mixture (about 3 cups) for topping. Press remaining crumb mixture in bottom of greased pan. Bake for 10 min.

Meanwhile, prepare filling. In a small bowl, combine caramel topping and 3 tablespoons flour.Blend well. Remove partially baked crust from oven; sprinkle with chocolate chips and nuts. Drizzle evenly with caramel mixture.Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Return to oven; bake an additional 18-22 min. or until golden brown. Cool 1 hr. or until completely cooled.

Pecan Pie Bars

Pecan Pie Bars
Prep Time:15 min
Start to Finish:2 hr
Makes:36 bars

2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
Semisweet chocolate chips, melted, if desired

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease bottom and sides of 13×9-inch pan with shortening or spray with cooking spray.

2. In large bowl, mix granulated sugar, butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in flour. Press dough in bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of pan. Bake 15 to 17 minutes or until edges are light brown.

3. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, beat brown sugar, corn syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla, the salt and eggs with spoon. Stir in pecans. Pour over crust.

4. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until set. Loosen edges from sides of pan while warm. Cool completely, about 1 hour. For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows. Dip 1 end of each bar into melted chocolate; lay flat on waxed paper to dry.

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Kahlua Bars

Kahlua Bars
Yields 24-32 bars

For the bars:
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
2/3 cup butter, room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup Kahlua
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

For the frosting:
2 tablespoons Kahlua
1 teaspoon instant coffee
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
2 cups powered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 to 3 teaspoons milk

For the topping:
1 ounce semi-sweet chocolate
1 tablespoon butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking pan. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate and butter together.  Remove pan from heat and mix in sugar, eggs, vanilla and Kahlua.  Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Spread in prepared pan.  Bake at 350 degrees, 25 to 30 minutes or until batter starts to pull away from sides of pan.  Cool.

TO PREPARE THE FROSTING:
In a small bowl, mix Kahlua with instant coffee, stirring until coffee is dissolved.  In a medium bowl, cream butter, powdered sugar and vanilla together.  Add coffee mixture and beat until well blended.  Add milk to desired consistency.  Spread frosting over cooled brownies.

TO PREPARE THE TOPPING:
In a small saucepan, melt chocolate and butter together.  Cool slightly, then drizzle topping over frosting.  Cool until chocolate is set.  Cut into bars.

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Glazed Honey Bars

Glazed Honey Bars

Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 16 bars

2/3 cup vegetable oil
1/8 cup honey
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup self-rising flour
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Glaze:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease an 8 by 8 by 2-inch pan.
In a mixing bowl, beat the oil, honey, granulated sugar, and egg until well blended. Stir the cinnamon into the flour, then stir this into the egg mixture and mix well. Stir in the nuts. Spread the batter in the prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let stand while you make the glaze. In a bowl, stir together the confectioners' sugar, mayonnaise, milk, and vanilla. Pour the glaze over the cake and spread it with a metal spatula. Let cool, then cut into bars.

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Lemon Bars

Lemon Bars

Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 16 bars

Crust:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup confectioners' sugar, plus more for dusting
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing

Filling:
2 eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease an 8 by 8 by 2-inch pan.
Make the crust by combining the flour, confectioners' sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Cut in the butter to make a crumbly mixture. Press the mixture into the prepared pan. You may need to dip your fingers into a little flour or confectioners' sugar to keep the dough from sticking to your fingers. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, to make the filling, mix the eggs, granulated sugar, flour, and lemon juice. Pour this over the baked crust and bake for 25 minutes longer. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, if desired, when the bars are done.

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Frosted Apple Cinnamon Bars

FROSTED APPLE CINNAMON BARS

Preparation time: 30 min; Baking time: 33 min
Yield: 48 bars

Bar Ingredients:
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups uncooked old-fashioned oats
3/4 cup Butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 (10-ounce) package cinnamon-flavored baking chips*
1 medium (1 cup) apple, chopped

Frosting Ingredients:
3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup Butter, softened
1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
Ground cinnamon, if desired

Heat oven to 350°F. Combine flour, salt and baking soda in medium bowl; stir in oats.

Combine butter, brown sugar and sugar in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add flour mixture. Beat until well mixed. Stir in cinnamon chips and apple by hand.

Spread batter into greased 13×9-inch baking pan. Bake for 33 to 38 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.

Combine all frosting ingredients in small bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Spread over cooled bars. Sprinkle with cinnamon, if desired.

*Substitute 1 (10 to 12-ounce) package white baking chips and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

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