Milk Chocolate-Mocha Bars

from Family Circle

Milk Chocolate-Mocha Bars
Servings: 36 Yield: 3 dozen bars Prep 20 mins Bake 350°F 20 mins

Ingredients

Cookie Bars
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoons instant espresso powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
Mocha Frosting
  • 3 tablespoons warm milk
  • 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
  • 1 1 pound box confectioners sugar
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

Make It

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan with nonstick vegetable-oil cooking spray.

Prepare cookie bars:

2. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons espresso powder, baking powder and salt into a bowl.

3. With electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat 1/2 cup butter in a large bowl until smooth and creamy. Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla until blended.

4. On low speed, beat in the flour mixture until well blended. Stir in the pecans if using and 1 cup milk chocolate chips until evenly distributed. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan; the batter will be a bit sticky.

5. Bake in 350 degree F oven for 20 to 25 minutes or just until edges begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool the cookie completely in the pan on a wire rack.

Prepare mocha frosting:

6. Stir together warm milk and espresso powder in a small bowl until the 1 tablespoon espresso powder is dissolved. Beat together the confectioners sugar, 1/2 cup softened butter and vanilla in a medium-size bowl until well blended and smooth. Gradually beat in warm espresso mixture until the frosting is smooth.

7. Once cookie bar in pan has cooled completely, spread evenly with mocha frosting. Sprinkle top with the 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips. Place pan in refrigerator briefly until frosting is set. Cut into 36 bars. Store in the refrigerator. Makes 3 dozen bars.

Nutrition Facts

Servings Per Recipe: 36; Amount Per Serving: cal. (kcal): 141, Fat, total (g): 5, chol. (mg): 21, sat. fat (g): 3, carb. (g): 23, fiber (g): 1, pro. (g): 1, sodium (mg): 32, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
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