Macaroon Madness Bars

Submitted by Steve P.

"Easy to make with a shortbread crust and a butterscotch coconut filling these please kids and adults alike."

 

• Ready In: 1hr
• Ingredients: 11
• Yields: 64 Bars
• Serves: 32

ingredients

• For Crust

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 5 tablespoons margarine or 5 tablespoons butter, softened

• For Filling

• 2 large eggs
• 2⁄3 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup pecans, chopped
• 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
• 3⁄4 cup butterscotch chips

directions

1. Prepare Crust: Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Grease 8x8-inch or 9x9-inch metal baking pan.
3. Line pan with foil; grease foil.
4. With fingertips, mix flour, brown sugar, and margarine or butter in prepared pan until soft dough forms.
5. Press dough firmly onto bottom of pan.
6. Bake Crust 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned.
7. Meanwhile, prepare Pecan-Butterscotch Filling: In large bowl, with wire whisk or fork, beat eggs with brown sugar, flour, vanilla, and salt just until blended.
8. Stir in pecans, coconut, and butterscotch chips.
9. Pour filling over warm Crust.
10. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until lightly browned around the edges and filling is set.
11. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.
12. Cover and refrigerate at least 5 hours or overnight for easier cutting.
13. When cold, transfer with foil to cutting board.
14. Cut into 8 strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 8 squares.

Reviews

[BBMinx]

I omitted the nuts and finished with chocolate drizzle and caramel sauce. Lined the pan with tinfoil for easy cleanup. I followed the baking advice and cooked the base for 8 minutes and the filling for 12. The middle wasn't set so I cooked until the edges were about to burn and had to take it out. Finished product was still raw in the middle so I cut off the cooked edges and had to throw the rest out :(

 

[Marie Nixon]

Nice, chewy bar cookie. Definitely follow the other chef's advice and bake the base for only about 8 minutes and bake the filling for about 12 minutes. I did that and the bars turned out great. The butterscotch flavor is really nice.

 

[jaybee chef]

Follow baking instructions and tips that Kathy wrote in her review.

 

[Dotty2]

A fantastic,simply delicious bar. Easy to make. I baked this at 350F, the base for 15 minutes then for 19 minutes @ 350. It was perfect(for my oven). A wonderful addition to the Christmas dainty tray. Thanks for sharing this great recipe.

 

[Kathy from Penetang]

OMG!!! These are fantastic. Like everyone else, the first time I made these the crust was rock hard - but my family liked them so I followed the suggestions that Jackie G gave and I cooked the crust only 10 minutes the second time and then the filling for only 12 minutes. They were much better but I had to try it again. The 3rd time was a charm. I cooked the crust for only 8 minutes and the filling for 12 minutes. They were FANTASTIC. I put some milk chocolate chips in a small zip lock bag and I put some white chocolate chips in another zip lock bag. Microwaved them for 1½ minutes, snipped a small hole in the corner of each bag and then drizzled the chocolate over the bars. Did the same with some caramel syrup. They looked just like the bars from M&M's. Love these so much they are now my favourite to WOW the crowds with. Just like M&M's but a lot less expensive. Thank you very much.