Spicy Smoky Smores Bars Food

LUSCIOUS LEMON SQUARES

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 by 13-inch baking sheet (otherwise known as a quarter sheet pan) with some cooking spray.
• In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or you can use a food processor), cream your butter with the sugar and almond extract until light and fluffy. Whisk the flour and salt in a small bowl, making sure there are no lumps. Turn the mixer speed to low, add the flour into your butter and mix until just incorporated. (Make sure not to over-mix.) Turn the dough onto the baking sheet, flour your hands and press it out evenly on the bottom and up the sides. Pop in the fridge for an hour (or overnight) to chill.
• Pop the crust in the oven and bake until a light golden brown, about 20 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• For the filling: While the crust is cooling, make your filling. Crack your eggs into a large bowl and add the sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice and flour. Whisk until combined. Pour into the crust and spread evenly. Put back in the oven and bake until the filling is completely set, about 30 minutes. Let cool to room temperature before serving.
• Dust with confectioners' sugar and then cut into 20 to 24 squares to serve. Garnish with raspberries, if desired.

SPICY HERMIT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• Place the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, until light and fluffy. With the mixer on low, add the egg, scrape down the bowl, then mix in the molasses.
• Sift together the flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing just until combined. Mix in the raisins and crystallized ginger. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Turn the dough out onto a very lightly floured board, form it into a disk with lightly floured hands, and cut it in half. Roll each half into a log 12 inches long and place them 3 inches apart on the prepared sheet pan. Bake for 20 minutes; the logs will still be soft in the center.
• Meanwhile, whisk the confectioners' sugar with 5 to 6 teaspoons rum to make a pourable glaze. While the logs are still warm, drizzle the glaze back and forth across the logs with a teaspoon and sprinkle them with the lemon zest. Allow to cool. Cut each log crosswise into 1 1/2-inch-wide bars.

S'MORES BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-by-8-inch baking dish with butter.
• In a large bowl combine the butter and brown sugar. Using a hand mixer, blend until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla extract and eggs and mix on medium speed until combined, about 1 minute.
• In a separate bowl combine the flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt. With the mixer running, slowly add the dry mixture into the wet mixture, and mix until a dough forms.
• Transfer the dough to the prepared baking dish and pat out in an even layer to cover the bottom of the pan. Top the dough with the chocolate chips and marshmallows.
• Bake until the marshmallows are browned and the dough is cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool to room temperature, then slice into 2-by-2-inch squares.