Cherry Berry Streusel Dessert Bars

Rating: 5

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Yield: 16 bars

Serving Size: 1 bar

Cherry Berry Streusel Dessert Bars

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 sticks (1 cup) cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2/3 cup cherry jam
• 1/3 cup red raspberry jam
Glaze
• 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
• 1-2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease a 9x9 square baking pan.
2. In bowl of your food processor, pulse to combine flour and sugar. Add almond extract and pulse two or three times to combine. Add butter all at once and process until coarse crumbs are formed, just as the dough begins to come together. Dump two-thirds of the crumb mixture into prepared pan and press evenly. Set remaining crumb mixture aside for the topping.
3. Combine the two jams, stirring to break it up then spread over the crumb crust. Sprinkle remaining topping over the jam.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 35-45 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
5. Remove from oven to wire rack and allow to cool completely before cutting into squares.
6. For the glaze, add almond extract, melted butter and one tablespoon of the milk to the powdered sugar. Stir to combine and add small amounts of remaining milk, as needed, until you reach a thick drizzling consistency. Drizzle over individual squares. Allow glaze to set before serving.

No Bake Dessert: Peanut Butter Bars

Rating: 5

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

No Bake Dessert: Peanut Butter Bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 cups animal cracker crumbs (or vanilla wafers, graham crackers, etc)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
Topping
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 10 oz semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

Instructions

1. In a mixer or a food processor, combine the first four ingredients until smooth. Spread into a 13x9 baking pan.
2. For the topping, melt the chocolate and peanut butter together in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir. If not completely melted you can heat in 10 second intervals until smooth. Spread over the top of the peanut butter layer.
3. Chill dessert in the refrigerator for about an hour, or in the freezer for 15 minutes. Cut into bars and serve.

Lemon Bars with Sweet Sour Cream Topping

Rating: 5

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 32 minutes

Total Time: 52 minutes

Yield: 16 bars

Serving Size: 1 bar

Lemon Bars with Sweet Sour Cream Topping

Ingredients

Crust
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) cold unsalted butter, cubed
Lemon Filling
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
Sweet Sour Cream Topping
• 1 cup sour cream
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon clear vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F and line a 9x9 square baking pan with foil and spray with cooking spray. Be sure that foil hangs over the edges, you will use it to lift out the bars when they are cool.
Make the Crust
2. In bowl of your food processor, pulse to combine flour, powdered sugar and salt. Add lemon zest and pulse to combine. Add butter all at once and process until coarse crumbs are formed, just as the dough begins to come together. Dump crumb mixture into prepared pan and press evenly. Bake for 11-12 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from oven and allow to cool on wire rack.
Make the Lemon Filling
3. Wipe out the food processor bowl and add all three eggs. Pulse to lightly beat the eggs. Add sugar and flour and pulse to combine. Add lemon zest and lemon juice. Process mixture for one minute or so. Pour filling over crust and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until filling is set. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack.
Make the Topping
4. Stir together the sour cream, sugar and vanilla until well combined. Spread over warm filling and put back in the oven for 5 minutes. Remove and let cool to room temperature.
5. Use the foil as handles, lift the dessert out of the pan and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into squares and serve.

Tropical Dream Dessert Bars

Rating: 5

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes

Yield: 24 bars

Serving Size: 1 bar

Tropical Dream Dessert Bars

Ingredients

Crust
• 2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 sticks (1 cup) cold unsalted butter, cubed
Tropical filling
• 1 cup chopped dried apricots
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup drained crushed pineapple
Glaze
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons orange zest
• 2-3 tablespoons orange juice

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F and line a 13x9 baking pan with foil so that foil hangs over the edge. Spray foil with cooking spray.
For the Crust
2. In bowl of your food processor, pulse to combine flour, powdered sugar and baking powder. Add butter all at once and process until coarse crumbs are formed, just as the dough begins to come together. Dump crumb mixture into prepared pan and press evenly. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Let crust cool completely on wire rack.
For the Filling
3. Combine apricots and orange juice in a small bowl and set aside.
4. Wipe out the food processor bowl and add all four eggs. Pulse to lightly beat the eggs. Add sugar and process for one minute. Add vanilla and pulse to combine. Add flour, baking powder and salt and pulse a few times to combine. Add apricot mixture and the pineapple and pulse quickly a few time, just to combine. Pour mixture over the cooled crust and spread. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until filling is set and edges are lightly browned.
5. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack. Allow to cool completely in the pan. Cut into squares.
For the Glaze
6. Add melted butter, orange zest and one tablespoon of the orange juice to the powdered sugar. Stir to combine and add small amounts of remaining juice, as needed, until you reach a thick drizzling consistency. Drizzle over individual squares. Allow glaze to set before serving.

Banana Bars with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

Rating: 5

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Banana Bars with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), softened
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup mashed bananas (2 large or 3 medium)
• 1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
Frosting:
• 1 8-oz package of cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick), softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a rimmed baking sheet (15x10x1) and set aside.
2. In large mixing bowl, beat butter on medium-high until creamy. Gradually add sugar until well combined. Add egg and beat just until combined. Add the mashed bananas, sour cream and vanilla. Beat until well combined.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and the salt. Turn mixer down to low and gradually add the flour mixture until well combined.
4. Spread batter into prepared pan and bake for 25-35 minutes, or until top springs back to the touch. Remove from oven and cool in pan on a wire rack.
For the Frosting:
5. Beat the cream cheese and butter together until creamy. Slowly add the powdered sugar until completely combined. Beat in the vanilla.
6. Spread frosting evenly over the cake with an icing spatula. Cut into bars.                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer Bars

Rating: 5

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer Bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened
• 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups creamy peanut butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
Filling:
• 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
Topping:
• 1/3 cup miniature chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 13x9 baking pan with foil, spray the foil with cooking spray.
2. In mixing bowl, beat the butter until creamy. Add the brown sugar and beat until well combined. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until combined. Add 2 cups peanut butter and 2 teaspoons of vanilla; beat until combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Turn mixture down to low and gradually add in the flour mixture until completely combined and dough comes together.
4. To make the filling, heat the sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons peanut butter, stirring occasionally, in a heavy saucepan over low heat until melted and creamy. Remove from heat and add the 2 teaspoons of vanilla.
5. Measure out 2 cups of the peanut butter dough and set it aside for the topping.
6. Press the remaining dough into the prepared pan. Spread the chocolate filing over the dough in the pan. Crumble the reserved dough over the top of the filling. Sprinkle with miniature chocolate chips.
7. Bake for 30 minutes or until topping is light golden brown. Cool in the pan on a wire rack.
8. Using the foil as handles, lift out of the pan and place on a cutting board. Cut into bars.