Midwestern Walnut Frosties

This bar cookie is especially favored for carry ins. This is a rich walnut treat.

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Yields: 3 dozen

Ingredients

• COOKIE LAYER

• 1  cup all-purpose flour
• 2  tablespoons confectioners' sugar
• 1⁄2 cup butter, softened

• COCONUT-WALNUT LAYER

• 2  large eggs
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1  cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2  tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄8 teaspoon salt
• 1  cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
• 1⁄2 cup flaked coconut

• FROSTING LAYER

• 1 1⁄4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2  tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons  orange juice
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons  grated  orange rind
• 1  pinch salt

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. In a bowl, combine all the ingredients for the cookie layer with a pastry blender or pulse in a food processor.
3. Pat into a buttered 12x7-inch flat glass baking dish.
4. Bake until golden.about 10 minutes.
5. While the first layer is baking, prepare the filling.
6. In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs and the vanilla until the eggs are pale yellow, about 2 minutes.
7. In another bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, walnuts, and coconut.
8. Add to the egg mixture and blend.
9. Cool the baked first layer for 5 minutes, then pour the walnut coconut mixture over the crust and bake for 25 minutes or until the top is golden and the center is done.
10. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely before frosting.
11. To prepare the frosting while the layers cool, all the frosting ingredients in a small bowl, until smooth.
12. Spread over the top of the cooled cookie.
13. Allow to stand for 1 hour, then cut into squares.
14. Store in layers separated by plastic wrap in an air tight container.