A Little Bit of Everything Cookie Bars

Ever go into your pantry and find yourself looking at odd measurements of leftover ingredients?  This recipe is perfect because you can put anything in it; any kind of nuts, raisins, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, and even caramel pieces. Use your imagination.

For this recipe I literally used up random leftovers that I had taking up space in my pantry. So not only did I clean out some cabinet space I also got a whole pan of awesomeness to boot.

Sigh. It was liberating.

3/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup organic sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp sea salt

3/4 cup unbleached flour

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

3 cups quick oats

3/4 cup pretzel bits

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 cup semi-sweet or dark chips

1/2 cup flaked coconut

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup  pomegranate infused dried cranberries

1/2 cup mini malt ball Easter eggs*, if desired

1. Preheat oven to 350* and lightly grease a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray.

2. Into mixture put butter, sugars, egg, and vanilla. Mix until creamy.

3. In separate bowl combine flour, salt, and baking soda. Stir in oats.

4. Pour flour and oat mixture into the mixer with the butter and sugar mixture. Mix well.

5. Add in pretzels, chips, nuts, fruit, coconut, etc. *Except for the malt balls or any other  candy/decoration. You may need to dig in with your hands at this point to really mix everything together.

6. Spread it out evenly into the prepared 9×13 pan and then push the malt eggs into the top randomly. This part is completely optional. You may want to use M&M’s or some other holiday candies for a different occasion.

7. Bake for 25 minutes. Let cool before cutting into bars.

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Crumble Bars

Welcome back to another Fantabulous Friday where you get the recipe to an awesome dessert! This is what I made for the boys this week and it was a hit!

*FYI: This recipe can easily cut in half. Since we are not huge dessert eaters (they would like to be, I assure you) half of a recipe is perfect because it gives us a taste, maybe a bit leftover for later, and then no extra to go to waste.

(Full Recipe)

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

2 cups old-fashioned oats

2 cups flour (I used  a 1/2 unbleached & 1/2 whole wheat mix)

1 tsp. baking soda

1 pkg (8 squares) semi-sweet chocolate baking squares

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (can substitute crunchy)

HEAT oven to 350*F.

BEAT butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Combine oats, flour, and baking soda, then add to sugar mixture; mixing well.

PRESS 3 cups of crumb mixture onto bottom of 13×9-inch pan sprayed with cooking spray. {I used the butter paper to grease pan liberally. A great use for any extra softened butter that sticks to the paper. Also just a good way to utilize everything without any waste. Cool, huh?}

MICROWAVE chocolate in small microwavable bowl on HIGH 1 1/2 minutes or until melted, stirring after 45 seconds. Stir in peanut butter. Carefully spread over crust; sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture.

BAKE 22 to 25 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool completely.

Yeah, I'll be licking that...

Enjoy!!