THE ELECTRIC KITCHEN
Bar cookies save time, energy
THE ELECTRIC KITCHEN
Hawaiian Electric Co.
DO YOU ever have a craving for a homemade sweet something -- like a cookie -- but get put off just thinking about the time and effort it takes to actually make it?
Well, no more: Bar cookies are the easy answer! Making bar cookies instead of drop cookies saves time and energy by eliminating the need to repeatedly drop spoonfuls of batter onto cookie sheets and then open and close the oven as you bake the cookies a sheet or two at a time.
With bar cookies you simply spread the batter into a baking pan, bake, cut and serve. You'll have a yummy homemade treat in less than an hour. Try these examples -- we think you'll impress yourself and your family.
Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars
» Crust:
1-1/4 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup finely chopped pecans
» Topping:
1 square (1 ounce) semi-sweet chocolate
1/2 cup butter
3 eggs, beaten
1-1/4 cups brown sugar
2 tablespoons bourbon or water
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
To make crust: In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in pecans. Press into bottom of ungreased 13-by-9-inch pan. Bake 10 minutes.
To make topping: In a saucepan, heat chocolate with butter over low heat until chocolate is melted.
Combine remaining ingredients; slowly stir in chocolate mixture. Pour over crust. Bake 20 more minutes or until set.
Cool and cut into 36 bars.
Approximate nutritional analysis, per bar: 120 calories, 7 g total fat, 3 g saturated fat, 30 mg cholesterol, 40 mg sodium, 13 g carbohydrate, no fiber, 9 g sugar, 1 g protein.
Almond Mocha Bars
1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
2-1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon instant coffee
1 package (6 ounce) semi-sweet chocolate pieces
1/2 cup chopped almonds
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 15-by-10-inch pan.
In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Add almond extract.
Sift flour with baking powder, salt and coffee. Stir into creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate and nuts. Press dough into prepared pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes.
Cut into bars while warm. Makes 30.
Approximate nutritional analysis, per bar: 160 calories, 9 g total fat, 5 g saturated fat, 20 mg cholesterol, 70 mg sodium, 18 g carbohydrate, no fiber, 10 g sugar, 2 g protein.
Cornflake Dream Bars
» Crust:
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup flour
» Topping:
2 eggs
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups cornflakes, slightly crushed
1 cup chopped nuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
To make crust: Blend margarine and sugar thoroughly. Add flour and blend to make a crumbly mixture. Press evenly and firmly into bottom of ungreased 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Bake 10 minutes or until delicately browned.
To make topping: Beat eggs well. Add sugar gradually and beat thoroughly. Add remaining ingredients and blend well. Drop by spoonfuls on top of baked crust and spread evenly. Bake 15 to 20 minutes.
Cool slightly. While still warm, cut in thirds or quarters and remove from pan. Then cut each segment into bars or squares. Makes 30 to 36.
Approximate nutritional analysis, per bar (based on 30 bars): 110 calories, 4.5 g total fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 20 mg cholesterol, 60 mg sodium, 17 g carbohydrate, no fiber, 11 g sugar, 2 g protein.
Hawaiian Electric Co. presents this weekly collection of recipes as a public service. Many are drawn from HECO's database of recipes, accessible online at
www.heco.com.