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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Cinnamon white chocolate, Cranberry Bars


This is just a basic 7 Layer Bar--on steroids! It's amazing what happens when one adds cinnamon chips, white chocolate chips and dried cranberries to a simple recipe. Every bite contains a surprise. This is one delicious bar!

I made this bar twice--the first time I used the instructions on a popular blog. My results were less than stellar. The recipe had you drizzle the sweetened condensed milk on top of the crust. then add the toppings and baked it. The recipe was good but not great. The crust was soggy. I knew this recipe could work. It is a popular recipe with many great variations.
So I went to my Americas Test Kitchen, The Best American Classics Cookbook. A variation of this recipe is pulled apart and made wonderful. I used the technique in the ATK cookbook applied it to this recipe and it turned out just the way I wanted it. I love ATK cookbooks. I always wonder why things do or do not work in cooking/baking. My questions are always answered. I own several ATK cookbook and consider each one a treasure. If you read cookbooks like novels--as I do these are the cookbooks for you!
So here is the ATK version with some seasonal twists. I have my good friend Carol to thank for this recipe. She brought me a plate of these and the search began!

Cinnamon, White Chocolate Cranberry Layer Bars
1 cup sweetened coconut
8 tablespoons butter
8 whole graham crackers, 4 ounces, crushed (Place the crackers in a large zipper lock bag and pound them with a smooth mallet. The result should be an assortment of crumbs, bits and chunks that measure about 1 1/2 cup.)
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup cinnamon chips
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 inch pan. Cover with foil, spray again. Spread the coconut on a baking sheet and bake until the outer flakes just begin to brown, about 8 minutes (don't multitask on this one, coconut burns easily! I know.) At the same time place the stick of butter in the 9x13 inch pan. Put it in the oven for about 6 minutes and let the butter melt (I guess this is multitasking, just be careful)!
When the butter is melted remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs over the melted butter. Toss lightly until all the butter is absorbed and the crumbs are evenly distributed. In order sprinkle the nuts, white chocolate chips, cinnamon chips, coconut and dried cranberries over the crust. Pour the entire contents of the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the dish. Return to the oven and bake until top is golden brown, about 25-30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack at least 2 hours. Remove from pan, remove foil and cut into bars.

1 year ago--5 Minute Fudge
2 years ago--Rosemary Bread
3 years ago--Banana Pecan Cupcakes

10 comments:

Lois Evensen said...

Those look delicious!

Unknown said...

7 layer bars are one of my favorites! You can guarantee I will remake this for one of the weeks of 12 weeks of Christmas Treats!!

Unknown said...

This looks delicious, thanks for sharing!!!

Nicole @WonkyW said...

Yum! These look Awesome! I love anything with cinnamon :)

Barbara Bakes said...

These look irresistible. I was thinking like Cara that they would make a great 12 weeks of Christmas treat. Pinned!

Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel said...

These look AMAZING! Loving the fall flavors!

Unknown said...

These sound wonderful! Love all the flavors in these bars!

Teri said...

I love these! These would be perfect to send to my son away at college. They are so full of fall! Thanks for such nice words when you visited my blog. I am a new follower!

Jocelyn said...

I love me some 7 layer bars for sure! This is a fun and yummy sounding twist! Glad you made them again and it worked out!!!

Kayte said...

Oh, I need to try this one!! No dark chocolate...I think I could love this version. Your photo is beautiful.