You are here: Home / Archives for Recipes / Bars

by category

marg1

Margarita Bars

May 1, 2013 19 Comments

Margarita Bars %The Baker Chick

I told you recently that Cinco de Mayo was one of my all-time favorite holidays to bake for, so I couldn’t help but share another great and festive recipe. A true Fiesta isn’t complete without a limey margarita right? It’s one of the only cocktails that I can drink without immediately getting sleepy afterwards, so honestly it’s what I choose any night I want to have fun. (Which lets be honest, is only once in a rare while for this homebody.)

These bars are essentially the same concept as lemon bars, but with lime filling and plenty tequila mixed into the batter. They are easy to make, a beautiful limey color (thanks to a drop of food coloring) and the perfect festive treat for a weekend celebration. Most of the tequila cooks out of the bars in the oven, but just enough of the flavor remains to make these super margarita-y without being overly boozy. Olé!

Margarita Bars %The Baker Chick

PS- The lovely Rachel from Rachel Cooks featured me in a little blogger interview series on her site. Check it out!

Margarita Bars %The Baker Chick

Filed Under: Bars, Cinco de Mayo, Recipes Tagged With: ,

brownies

Fudgy Guiniess Brownies with Whiskey Caramel Glaze

March 13, 2013 30 Comments

Fudgy Guiniess Brownies with Whiskey Caramel Glaze %The Baker Chick

Given my Irish roots, (my granddad James McCann was a full-blooded Irishman,) and the fact that my hubby has a fair amount of Irish blood as well, I couldn’t possibly let St. Patrick’s day go by without at least one themed treat. I’ll be in Paris on Sunday (omg) and won’t get to celebrate (which really only entails wearing green and eating some corned beef,) but eating these delicious brownies was good enough for me.

These brownies on their own don’t taste super boozy, and the addition of the stout really just adds a richness and depth of flavor. The caramel glaze brings a nice kick of whiskey, but that isn’t over-powering either, just a nice addition to the super chocolatey flavor from the brownies.

Fudgy Guiniess Brownies with Whiskey Caramel Glaze %The Baker Chick

Fudgy Guiniess Brownies with Whiskey Caramel Glaze %The Baker Chick

Filed Under: Bars, Brownies, Recipes Tagged With: , ,

lemonbars

Whole Lemon Bars

March 1, 2013 24 Comments

Whole Lemon Bars %The Baker Chick

I never thought this day would come- it’s finally March! Every winter season I tell myself that all I have to do is get through January and February and then it’s smooth sailing through Spring! Even though March may very well be just as cold and dreary as the earlier months of the year, my birthday a week in and the slightly warmer weather seems to make all the difference. (And lucky for me, I’ll be in Europe for 2 weeks of the month so it’s pretty much the best month EVER.)

It seems to me that the first day of March warrants something bright and sunny don’t you think? Nothing screams sunshine to me quite like a bright and tart lemon bar. This recipe from The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook is especially wonderful because you can make the entire thing in a food processor. Given my dishwasher-free existence- I am an instant fan of recipes that are dish efficient- and this one is just that.

Whole Lemon Bars %The Baker Chick

Whole Lemon Bars %The Baker Chick

Filed Under: Bars, Classics, Recipes Tagged With:

IMG_2735

Brown Butter Marshmallow Popcorn Bars

February 20, 2013 21 Comments

Brown Butter Marshmallow Popcorn Bars %The Baker Chick

Since I was a little girl I’ve loved the Academy Awards. I always adored everything Hollywood and nothing was better than watching my favorite movie stars in their beautiful gowns, dreaming of being there someday myself. (Who knows if I’ll ever get to attend the Oscars, but I have held one once!)

Brown Butter Marshmallow Popcorn Bars %The Baker Chick

Brown Butter Marshmallow Popcorn Bars %The Baker Chick

Filed Under: Bars, Recipes Tagged With: ,

Sugar Cookie Bars- The Baker Chick

Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

February 6, 2013 33 Comments

Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars %The Baker Chick

It’s amazing how much I love a recipe that makes things quick and easy.  Even though plenty of people probably make sugar cookies regularly, not minding the steps involved, it’s a treat I often don’t have the patience for. Now that being said, it’s on my “baking bucket list” to learn how to make the beautiful royal-iced cookies that some bloggers are so amazing at, but I’m taking baby steps OK! In the meantime, I’m more than happy to satisfy my sugar-cookie-sweet-tooth with the simplest sugar cookie bars in the planet.

Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars %The Baker Chick

Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars %The Baker Chick

Filed Under: Bars, Recipes

IMG_1851

Gooey Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

January 25, 2013 16 Comments

Gooey Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies %The Baker Chick

*First of all- Today is the day my wedding is featured on Style Me Pretty! Check out our feature here!!!*

So Ok- do you remember the first time you made a recipe from scratch? I definitely can picture that moment when I first made a cake without a mix, not believing that how easy and delicious it was! When it comes to brownies, I never ever fail to be impressed when a recipe tastes better than a box. I’ve always really loved boxed brownies, but the ingredients aren’t my favorite and I obviously love trying to make everything from scratch.

Gooey Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies %The Baker Chick

When it comes to these particular brownies, I keep thinking of a friend from grade school whose Mom used to always make peanut butter swirl brownies for class events and bake sales. I remember being obsessed with them and after awhile asked for the recipe to give my Mom hoping she’d make them for us. (Wishfully thinking she wouldn’t health them up with natural flours and sugars.)  I remember my friend’s mom saying they were from a box, and at the time I thought that meant boxed brownies were my favorite thing in the world! Now 20 years later, all I can think about are ways to throw all that out and make them from scratch…

Gooey Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies %The Baker Chick

Well I’m sure you can guess that I’m pretty happy with the results. I used the darkest Valharona cocoa powder which gave the brownies an amazing rich taste and texture. The peanut butter layer was everything I wanted it to be- tasting just like Reese’s filling and perfectly nutty and sweet.

As delicious as these brownies turned out, I did realize that I’m a horrible “swirler.” I guess I don’t have the delicate hand needed to gently pull the layers together so a lot of my peanut butter filling ended up in the middle. I totally suck right? You know for ending up with a gooey peanut butter layer that oozed out between the layers of fudgy brownie. How could I? Now I just need a bake sale or something to make these for :)

Gooey Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies %The Baker Chick

Filed Under: Bars, Brownies, Recipes Tagged With: ,

Banana Bars with Brown Butter Icing

Banana Bars with Brown Butter Icing

November 9, 2012 21 Comments

Banana Bars with Brown Butter Icing %The Baker Chick

One of the questions people are always always asking me about writing a baking blog is how I manage to eat anything other than sweets 24/7. I usually try one of whatever I make, save a couple for Andy, and then give the rest away as fast as I can. These bars were no exception, and they were out of my house within an hour of photographing them. And good thing too, because these may be the most addicting, delicious things I’ve tasted in ages. (So good that I may have gone back and hit up Andy’s stash later in the day!)

Banana Bars with Brown Butter Icing %The Baker Chick

Banana Bars with Brown Butter Icing %The Baker Chick

It starts with the most buttery soft banana bar that is the perfect texture and flavor, (I had the over- ripe and perfect baking bananas for these.) While the freshly baked cake-like bars are still warm, they are slathered with a thick brown-butter icing, flecked with bits of nutty brown buttery goodness. The icing soaks into the warm cake, and melts just a teeny bit, and creates a truly wonderful flavor combination that I’m now obsessed with. I’ve always loved brown butter, but this unique icing is really spectacular- I’ll be using it again without a doubt!

Banana Bars with Brown Butter Icing %The Baker Chick

Banana Bars with Brown Butter Icing %The Baker Chick

Print
Banana Bars with Brown Butter Icing

Yield: 12 bars

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup (about 2) very ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • brown butter frosting:
  • 1/4 c. butter
  • 2 c. powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 tbsp. milk

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 375F. Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper. (I overlap two pieces so the sides hang over the pan. It makes removing the bars easy as can be.)
  2. In a large bowl, beat together sugar, sour cream, butter, and eggs until creamy.
  3. Blend in bananas and vanilla extract.
  4. Add flour, baking soda, salt, stir together until just combined. Spread batter evenly into pan.
  5. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool slightly and then remove from pan using the parchment to lift.
    6. Meanwhile, for frosting:
  6. Place butter in a heatproof dish with a well-fit dish on top. Microwave butter for 4-5 minutes. You will hear it bubble and pop and after wards it should be perfectly browned. Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk. Whisk together until smooth and thick.
  7. Spread the icing on the bars when they have cooled for about 10-15 minutes. The frosting goes on much easier when the bars are a little warm, it also creates an amazing soft, slightly-melty affect.
http://www.the-baker-chick.com/2012/11/09/banana-bars-with-brown-butter-icing/

Recipe adapted from: Life’s Simple Measures

Filed Under: Bars, Recipes Tagged With: ,

IMG_9375

Magic Bars

October 9, 2012 15 Comments

Magic Bars %The Baker Chick

It’s possible that you’ve seen these bars before. I think they’re pretty popular. They have other names like Hello Dolly bars or 7 layer bars, but I think Magic Bars makes the most sense. I mean isn’t it pretty much magic that you can create such a delicious and decadant treat without having to do much work at all? Seriously, I have loved these bars for ages, but I never knew how simple they really are.

Magic Bars %The Baker Chick

Whipping up a batch of these crowd-pleasing delicious bars is so easy, that the most novice “non-baker” out there could easily conquer them. I wouldn’t even really consider baking a skill you need to make these. No baking soda, or powder, or flour. No real quantities to stick to, and an infinite amount of creative freedom.  It’s as simple as mixing some cookie crumbs with butter and sugar, baking that crust for 10 minutes, and then just throwing everything else in on top of that. Simple.

Magic Bars %The Baker Chick

This recipe normally contains nuts, but since I married a “nuts-ruin-baked-goods” man, I skipped them. I added butterscotch chips, but you could also add M&Ms, white chocolate, peanut butter chips or more. So many options. This way, they tastes kinda like Samoas, but way easier. Enjoy! :)

note: For the crust, any kind of cookie will do. I had leftover Vanilla Wafers and Chocolate Cookies in the freezer and used those. Graham Crackers or other wafer cookies are fine too!)

Print
Magic Bars

Yield: 20 bars

Ingredients

  • 3 cups ground cookie crumbs
  • 1 to 1 1/2 sticks of butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 cup butterscotch chips
  • 1 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375. Line a quarter sheet pan (or a 9x13 baking dish) with parchment paper.
  2. Place cookie crumbs into a bowl and stir in the sugar and 1 stick of the butter. (I found that one stick was enough for me, but add the rest if your mixture seems dry.) Press crust mixture into the bottom of the pan and bake for 10 minutes or until firm.
  3. Let crust cool on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes, and then sprinkle the chocolate and butterscotch chips over it. Pour the condensed milk evenly over the chips and top with the coconut. Bake for 15 minutes or until the coconut gets toasty. Allow bars to cool completely and then cut into squares.
http://www.the-baker-chick.com/2012/10/09/magic-bars/

Recipe adapted from: Martha Stewart

Filed Under: Bars, Recipes Tagged With: , ,

IMG_9112

Pumpkin Butterscotch Blondies

October 5, 2012 12 Comments

Pumpkin Butterscotch Blondies %The Baker Chick

Ok, one last pumpkin recipe for you this week. (I warned you that my kitchen had gotten overtaken with the stuff!)  Since getting back to town I’ve been taking treats to all my agents, and I needed something that could easily be transported and stored. I also always try to bring them seasonal treats, so there you have it. I promise to give some other fall flavors love next week!

These blondies come together in no time, and the mix-in combinations are endless! Butterscotch seemed like the obvious choice to go with all the spices, but other chips/nuts/crunchies would be great too. I personally don’t like the thought of mixing chocolate and pumpkin, so this was a great combo for me. But feel free to take some creative liberties!

Pumpkin Butterscotch Blondies %The Baker Chick

There you have it! Have a wonderful weeekend. I actually have some fun things planned. Tomorrow- Andy and I are doing an all day walking tour around the perimeter of Manhattan! I’ve been wanting to do it for ages, and tomorrow seems like the perfect day before it gets too cold. We have lots of food stops planned along the way, and I’ll be sure to share instagram photos along the way. (I’m @AudraFullerton on Instagram in case you don’t follow me.)

Sunday I’m hosting a football party at the apartment! I’m still finalizing the menu, but I’m thinking lots of chili and cornbread…I hope you all have fun things planned too. TGIF! xo

Print
Pumpkin Butterscotch Blondies

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin-pie spice
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
  • 1 package (12 ounces) butterscotch chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving an overhang on the sides. In a medium bowl, whisk the first 4 ingredients together; set aside.
  2. With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar on medium-high speed until smooth; beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in pumpkin puree (don't worry if it looks curdle-y). Reduce speed to low, and mix in dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in butterscotch chips.
  3. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake until edges begin to pull away from sides of pan and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely in pan.
  4. Lift bars from pan (using the foil to help). Peel off foil, and use a serrated knife to cut into 24 squares.
http://www.the-baker-chick.com/2012/10/05/pumpkin-butterscotch-blondies/

Recipe barely adapted from: Martha Stewart

Filed Under: Bars, Blondies, Recipes Tagged With: ,

«Older Posts