Hoosier Bars

I may live in Virginia now, but I'm still a Hoosier at heart! My mom found this recipe on familytime.com, but it was originally published in Nestle Very Best Baking. There is a cookie-like crust with a fluffy sweet top layer.

• Ready In: 50 mins
• Serves: 36

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups flour
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  cup  packed brown sugar
• 1⁄2 cup granulated sugar
• 1⁄2 cup butter or 1⁄2 cup margarine, softened
• 2  large eggs, separated
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (12 ounce) package  NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
• 3⁄4 cup peanuts (honey roasted work best)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325° F.
2. Mix flour and baking soda together.
3. Beat 1/2 cup brown sugar, sugar and butter in a separate mixing bowl until creamy.
4. Add egg yolks and vanilla extract to creamed mixture.
5. Gradually mix in flour mixture until crumbly.
6. Stir in 1 1/2 cups chocolate morsels and 1/2 cup peanuts.
7. Press dough onto bottom of greased 13 x 9 inch pan (I put cling wrap over the dough and then just press with my hands- it just works better than any other technique I've found so far and this way my hands, though clean, aren't all over the food!).
8. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
9. Gradually beat in remaining brown sugar until stiff peaks form.
10. Spread egg& sugar mixture over dough.
11. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup chocolate morsels and remaining 1/4 cup peanuts.
12. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes.
13. Cool on wire rack for approximately 20 minutes.
14. Cut into bars while still warm- the BEST time to eat these!