Molly O Bars Food

MONSTER COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line a 9-inch square metal pan with parchment paper that comes up on two sides to give you little wings.
• In a medium bowl, combine the oats, coconut, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. In a large bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, brown sugar, butter and granulated sugar until combined and creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking well after each. Add the vanilla. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the oat mixture until combined, then fold in the peanuts and chocolate-coated candies. Press into the baking pan. Press a few additional chocolate-coated candies into the top.
• Bake until browned around the edges; begin checking for doneness at 28 minutes. Let cool in the pan completely, then carefully lift out of the pan and use a sharp serrated knife to slice into bars. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days.

RHUBARB BARS

Steps:

• For the bars: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F with a rack in the middle.
• Grease and line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Cut enough so there are wings hanging over the sides of the pan for when it's time to remove the bars!
• In a food processor, combine the flour, almond flour, granulated sugar and salt and pulse to combine. Add the butter, egg white and rosewater, if using. Pulse until the mixture clumps together into small to medium clumps of dough.
• Pour the dough out into the prepared pan and press evenly all around the bottom with a measuring cup or the back of a spatula until smooth.
• Bake until the crust is just set and the edges are light golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
• For the filling: Combine the rhubarb in a medium saucepan with water just to cover (about 1 1/2 cups water) and 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Scrape in the vanilla bean seeds and add the pod. Simmer until the rhubarb is falling apart, about 10 minutes. Cool, then strain and discard the solids. (See Cook's Note.)
• Add 1/4 cup of the reserved rhubarb juice to a small mixing bowl. Add the cornstarch. Use a small whisk or fork to combine until smooth and there are no cornstarch lumps. Add the rhubarb slurry to the saucepan with an additional 1/2 cup of the reserved rhubarb juice. (See Cook's Note for uses for any extra juice).
• Whisk in the eggs, yolks, salt, remaining 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Cook, whisking constantly, over medium heat until the mixture begins to simmer and thicken and bubbles pop to the surface, 7 to 10 minutes. Whisk in the zest, then the butter and coconut oil a little at a time. Whisk in just enough food coloring to make a salmon pink color, 2 to 3 drops.
• Pour the filling mixture over the cookie crust and bake until the edges are set, but the center is just a tiny bit jiggly, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool completely.
• Once cooled, remove the bars from the pan. With a sharp knife, cut into 16 squares, wiping the blade after each cut. (You can also trim the edges for a cleaner look.) Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
• For longer storage, refrigerate between layers of parchment in a sealed container.

HALVA APPLE PIE BARS

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat oven to 350 F. Line an 8-by-8-inch square pan with enough parchment paper to have 1-inch wings on 2 sides.
• In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, combine the butter, sugar, vanilla and salt and beat on medium until pale and fluffy. Reduce to low, add both flours and mix to combine. Press evenly into the pan and bake for 10 minutes. Let cool slightly, about 10 minutes, while you make the filling.
• For the filling: In a large bowl, toss the apples with the lemon juice. Sprinkle in the flour, sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg and salt and toss to combine. Arrange evenly on top of the crust.
• For the crumble: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Add the butter and mix with your hands until crumbly. Sprinkle all over the apples. Sprinkle on the halva or marzipan and sprinkles, if using. Bake until the crumbles begin to brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool in the pan completely, about 1 hour and then slice into bars. Enjoy!

PISTACHIO-LEMON BARS

Steps:

• To make crust, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper (if using foil, lightly butter it). Place flour, sugar and salt in a food processor and pulse a few times. Add butter and process until well combined. Stir in chopped pistachios. Firmly press mixture into the bottom of the lined pan using the flat bottom of a glass or measuring cup (if it sticks, place a piece of parchment paper on the dough before pressing). Bake until lightly browned, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the filling ingredients. When the crust is baked, pour the filling into the pan and bake until set, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and cut into 2-inch squares.