Chocolate Crunch Bars Recipe
Two kinds of cereal and walnuts add crunch to this delicious bar cookie. And cream cheese in the frosting adds body with less fat than butter or margarine.
COST PER BAR ► 13¢
YIELDS ► 36 bars
- ½ cup margarine
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup crushed corn flakes cereal
- 1 cup quick-cooking oatmeal
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- 1½ cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 350°F.
In large bowl, combine margarine with sugars and beat well. Add egg and vanilla and beat until blended.
Stir in flour and baking soda. Then add cereal, oatmeal, and nuts.
Pour into ungreased 9″ × 13″ pan.
Bake for 25–35 minutes or until bars are set and light golden brown (do not overbake). Cool on wire rack.
In medium saucepan, combine chocolate chips, milk and cream cheese. Cook and stir over medium low heat until chips are melted and mixture is smooth.
Remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar until smooth. Frost cooled bars.
Using Stale Cereal
If the leftover cereal at the bottom of the box has lost its crunch, you can bring it back to life. Just put the cereal on a pan and place in a 350°F oven for 3–6 minutes until crisp. Watch carefully, because the cereal can burn easily. Let the cereal cool and use it immediately in the recipe.
