Our Three Favorite Bar-Cookie Recipes, Featuring....the Best Brownies Ever!

RACHEL BEERY

We are delighted that Rachel is a contributor to our blog. Rachel not only inspired us to create TakeThemAMeal.com, she has been a constant friend, and has modeled graceful hospitality to me for many years.
-Adina Bailey, Co-founder of TakeThemAMeal.com

Seriously, until this recipe, I'd never found a made-from-scratch brownie that tasted as good as brownies from a mix. But these brownies are just what brownies should be - rich, chocolatey, and moist. We came across them sort of by accident. Megan wanted to make brownies, so she looked up a recipe, mixed them up, and then asked me how long to bake them for. When I looked at the cookbook, I saw that the recipe was in the microwave cooking section. Hmmmm. We decided to try baking them in the oven anyway, and they are just amazing. They won first prize at the fair when she entered them two years ago. So go ahead - try them!

Brownies

2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla

Beat together in small bowl for 1 minute at medium speed until light.

1/2 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder

Blend in on low-speed

2/3 cup chopped nuts (opt.)

Stir in. Spread batter evenly in 8-inch-square dish. Bake at 350° for 25 min.

This next bar cookie is one I got from my sister. Anything made with peanut butter, oatmeal, and chocolate, has to be good, right?!

Peanut Butter Oat Bars

2/3 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 tsp. vanilla
4 cups quick oats

In a mixing bowl, combine first five ingredients. Gradually add the oats. Press into a greased 9 x 13 in. pan. Bake at 400* for 12-14 minutes or until just the edges are golden brown. Cool five minutes.

Meanwhile, for the topping, melt together in microwave for 1-2 minutes -

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
1/3 cup peanut butter

Stir until blended and spread over warm bars. Cool completely, then refrigerate for 2 -3 hours before cutting.

And this last one is a favorite from my growing up years. The name doesn't exactly make you think, "Ummm, sounds delicious!", but trust me, they are. They have a warm, buttery flavor that makes them so, so good.

Calcium Bars

1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups dry milk
2 cups brown sugar

Mix dry ingredients, then add -

1 cup butter, softened
4 eggs
1 cup chopped nuts

Spread into greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown. Cut into squares and coat with powdered sugar.

Bar cookies are easy for kids to make. We love drop cookies, too, but when we don't feel like taking the time to scoop out all those balls of dough, we mix up one of these favorites, spread them in a pan, and 30 minutes later they're ready.

Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

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