Christmas Bars

Christmas Bars (“the ones everyone is waiting for”)

Every now and again, Mom tinkered with a recipe that was unquestionably “American.” Just now and again though. She thought that American desserts were a little too sweet. Then she tried a bar cookie around Christmas time and it was a hit! Mixed in with her simple, generally hard, biscotti-type cookies, the bars were a stand out, especially with us. Crunchy and chewy, sweet and decadent. When she made them, there would be a little announcement along the lines of: “Here they are, the ones everyone is waiting for!” So true. So, it’s Christmas, and Here they are, the ones everyone is waiting for!

In the heart of the holiday season, amidst the comforting scent of cinnamon and the warm glow of festive lights, there's a particular treat that emerges from our family kitchen – Christmas Bars, often hailed as "the ones everyone is waiting for." While our Italian heritage predominantly steers Mom's culinary repertoire towards less saccharine creations, these bars became a delightful exception to her dessert philosophy.

Mom, with her discerning taste buds, found many American desserts a tad too sweet for her liking. However, there was an exception, a gem she discovered during the Christmas season – the bar cookie. Crunchy, chewy, sweet, and decadent, these bars quickly became a hit, especially with us, her eager taste-testers. Amidst the array of her signature biscotti-type cookies, these bars stood out, creating a buzz of anticipation every time she announced, "Here they are, the ones everyone is waiting for!"

As the holiday season unfolds, and the kitchen becomes a hub of activity, the familiar routine of crafting these Christmas Bars commences. With a prep time of approximately 30 minutes, the familiar scent of butter and sugar creaming together fills the air. Mom's hands deftly maneuver through the process, creating a dough that holds the promise of delightful textures and flavors.

The cookie sheet, a canvas for holiday indulgence, is thoroughly greased with Crisco, setting the stage for the symphony of ingredients. Butter, sugar, egg yolks, and salt unite in the mixing bowl, creating a harmonious blend that forms the foundation of these delectable bars. Gradually, the flour is introduced, and the dough takes shape under Mom's skilled hands, resulting in a soft, workable consistency.

With precision and care, Mom pats the dough onto the cookie sheet, creating a seamless layer that will serve as the base for the upcoming layers of flavor. Into the oven it goes, and as the dough turns a light golden brown, the kitchen is filled with the promise of something extraordinary.

As the sheet emerges, a canvas of possibilities unfolds. The seedless raspberry jam is spread generously, creating a vibrant and fruity layer that harmonizes with the buttery foundation. A sprinkling of semi-sweet chocolate chips adds richness, while shredded coconut introduces a delightful chewiness. The pièce de résistance comes in the form of sweetened condensed milk, drizzled artfully over the top, ready to cascade into a symphony of sweetness.

Back into the oven the bars go, the coconut gently toasting to perfection. The anticipation builds as the kitchen transforms into a sanctuary of holiday magic. Cooling time is essential, allowing the bars to settle and the flavors to meld before the final act – cutting into squares. Patience is rewarded as each square reveals layers of texture and taste, a harmonious blend of sweet, chewy, and decadent notes.

Christmas Bars

Servings: 28

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 35 Min

Ingredients

1 cup butter, at room temperature (or microwave for 15 seconds)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 egg yolks
2 1/2 cups flour (or use King Arthur Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour for GF bars)
12 ounces seedless raspberry jam
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup shredded coconut
8 ounces sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Thoroughly grease a cookie sheet with Crisco or a similar product.
In a medium mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until fully combined.
Add egg yolks and salt and beat for two minutes.
Gradually add the flour and work the dough (by hand) until it is soft.
Taking a small piece of dough, pat it into the cookie sheet, starting at the flat part of a corner (this dough should not go up the sides of the cookie sheet), until the dough is flat. Slowly add the rest of the dough in small pieces, patting each piece onto the cookie sheet and connecting it to what is already on the sheet. Repeat until the bottom of the cookie sheet is covered with one flat piece of dough.
Bake for 15 to 25 minutes, until the dough is lightly browned.
Remove from the oven and spread the jam evenly over the cooked dough.
Top with chocolate chips and coconut.
Drizzle the condensed milk over the top and place on the bottom rack of the oven for 10 minutes.
Move to the middle or top rack of the oven and bake for 5 to 15 minutes, until the coconut begins to brown a little.
Cool for at least 45 minutes before cutting into squares.