Delicious Bar Cookies – Triple Layer Chocolate Bars And Cranberry Coconut Bars

For quick-fix tempting desserts, try bar dessert/cookies.  They are easy, tasty, and they are easy to transport to pitch-in meals, office parties, family reunions, etc.  The Triple Layer Chocolate Bars are perfect for the chocoholic in your group.  The Cranberry-Coconut Bars are a perfect blend of tart and sweet combining cranberries, coconut, and white baking chips.

TRIPLE LAYER CHOCOLATE BARS

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/2 cup cocoa, divided

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

1 can (14-oz) sweetened condensed milk

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 cup chopped nuts

2 cups (12-oz pkg) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, stir graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup of the cocoa and the sugar together.  Stir butter into mixture, blending well.  Press mixture firmly onto bottom of ungreased 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan.

In a small bowl, beat sweetened condensed milk, flour, egg, vanilla, baking powder and the remaining cocoa.  Stir nuts into the mixture.  Spread evenly over prepared crust.  Sprinkle with chocolate chips.  Bake in 350 degree oven for 25 minutes or until set.  Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.  Cut into 24 or 36 bars depending on the size you want.  Store in a tightly covered container at room temperature.

CRANBERRY-COCONUT BARS

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1 cup quick oats

1 pkg (12-oz) white baking chips, divided

1 cup shredded coconut

1 1/2 cups dried cranberries

1/3 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease or spray a 15 x 10-inch jelly roll pan; set aside.

In a small bowl, combine flour and baking soda; set aside.  Cream together the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar; add eggs and vanilla.  Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture gradually.  Blend in oats, 1 cup of the white baking chips, coconut and cranberries.  Press dough evenly into the prepared jelly roll pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until edges are golden brown and center is set.  Cool completely.

In a small saucepan, cook and stir remaining baking chips and milk over low heat until smooth.  Drizzle mixture over cooled bars.  Sprinkle with chopped pecans, if desired.  Cut into bars to serve.

Enjoy!