Midnight Mint Bars

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 36

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup butter (no substitutes)
• 1⁄3 cup  baking cocoa
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1  egg, beaten
• 1 3⁄4 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 3⁄4 cup flaked coconut
• 1⁄2 cup  finely chopped walnuts

• Filling

• 1⁄3 cup butter, softened
• 2  cups confectioners' sugar
• 3  tablespoons milk
• 1  teaspoon  peppermint extract
•  green food coloring, optional

• Topping

• 2⁄3 cup  semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2  tablespoons butter

Directions

1. In a heavy saucepan, heat the butter, cocoa and sugar over low heat until sugar is dissolved, stirring often.
2. Remove from the heat.
3. Stir in a small amount of hot mixture into egg; return all to pan.
4. Cook and stir until mixture coats a metal spoon and reaches 160.
5. Remove from heat.
6. Stir in cracker crumbs, coconut and walnuts.
7. Press into a buttered 9 inch square pan; set aside.
8. For filling, in a small mixing bowl, beat butter, confectioners sugar, milk and extract until smooth.
9. Tint with food coloring if desired.
10. Spread evenly over bottom layer; set aside.
11. For topping, in a heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips and butter over low heat until blended and smooth, stirring often.
12. Remove from heat.
13. Cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes.
14. Spread over filling.
15. Cover and refrigerate until set, about 1 hour.
16. Cut into bars.
17. Store in the refrigerator.