I shared one of my most well-received recipes a while back. It is so, so simple. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s just that when you slave over something that is pretty involved, it’s a tiny bit disheartening when something you threw together in 10 minutes gets a better response. Overall, though, having a delicious dessert that’s also quick and easy isn’t such a bad thing.
Traditionally, I make these with chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Because Quinn was my reason for baking these, I let him have his say this time, and he wanted chocolate chips, caramel chips, and hazelnuts (about 3/4 cup). For an extra variation, I also used chocolate graham cracker crumbs.
Looking at BoB, you may think that I bake all the time. I do bake frequently, and I love doing it. But, there are days when I’m just not up for it. That’s when recipes like these can be your best friend. While these are certainly not a culinary masterpiece, they are definitely good. And, what a great return on your time and effort!
BoB’s best quick and easy recipes:
32 responses so far ↓
1 Midge // Jan 23, 2008 at 9:19 pm
I really enjoy your site, the photos and recipes are incredible…thanks for sharing!!
Just wondering the caramel chips you are talking about; are these the Kraft caramel bits?
2 amanda // Jan 23, 2008 at 9:58 pm
they look utterly delicious! great addition with the hazelnuts. they work so well in these bars by giving a great crunch.
3 Evelin // Jan 23, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Not a culinary masterpiece? Oh, come on, they look like my edible fantasy:)
4 jennifer // Jan 24, 2008 at 1:00 am
Midge, thanks so much! I did use the Kraft caramel bits, chips, or whatever they’re calling them. They worked really well.
Thanks, Amanda! I love hazelnuts. They really add something to these bars.
LOL, Evelin! Some times the simplest things are the best.
5 Patricia Scarpin // Jan 24, 2008 at 5:44 am
These are scrumptious, Jen!
Your recipes are always winners!
6 Leslie // Jan 24, 2008 at 6:12 am
We call these Hello Dollies at our house, and my kids are crazy for them. I’ve never even thought to vary the ingredients, though, so I’ll have to give it a try!
7 Dianne // Jan 24, 2008 at 7:47 am
Oh wow! Those look amazing. I think I gained five pounds just from the photo!
8 rachel // Jan 24, 2008 at 8:16 am
I like the chocolate graham cracker idea.
9 Ashley // Jan 24, 2008 at 9:57 am
Yum! In a way I wish they were really complicated to make so I’d be less tempted to make them and eat them all.
10 jennifer // Jan 24, 2008 at 10:27 am
Thanks, Patricia!
Leslie, I think these have lots of different names. Varying the ingredients is a good way to clean out your pantry, too!
Dianne, I know what you mean. I cut most of them into very small pieces so I didn’t feel quite so guilty.
Rachel, I think the graham crackers really changed these from the original.
Ashley, you definitely have a point. They may be *too* easy to make!
11 Tarah // Jan 24, 2008 at 10:47 am
Your recipes are always wonderful. And I really like this one; Love the whole chocolate graham cracker idea :]
12 megan // Jan 24, 2008 at 10:52 am
Love the variations you can do with this bar.
Love the caramel and chocolate graham cracker idea, too.
13 jennifer // Jan 24, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Thanks, Tarah & Megan! Those chocolate graham crackers are great for the crust.
14 kate // Jan 24, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I just got an email update to these and this picture opened up and my jaw dropped !! wow !! really stunningly divine looking cookies. Gotta make me some of those.
15 JEP // Jan 24, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Every time I log onto your blog & see your latest photo & recipe, I just can’t help but feel that one is the best…then comes your next post & recipe & I think that one tops the previous one:) You are truly amazing—thanks for sharing your expertise with all of us!
16 Lori // Jan 24, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Wow, looks like you can just take a bite of the computer screen. Great close up shot! Love the recipe too.
Lori
http://TheRecipeGirl.blogspot.com
17 Jessica // Jan 24, 2008 at 3:41 pm
What chance do I have of upstaging that, brownie amateur that I am?
18 jennifer // Jan 24, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Thanks, Kate! Those portrait pictures always seem huge on the site, but I love them.
JEP, I don’t know that I have anything close to expertise, but thanks for the compliment!
Thanks, Lori!
Jessica, these are so simple. You should give them a shot!
19 brilynn // Jan 24, 2008 at 8:24 pm
That first pic is so decadent and wonderful!
20 Tracy // Jan 24, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Those look incredible! Your photo makes me weep with longing, as I’m still holding firm to my new year’s diet!
21 Emiline // Jan 25, 2008 at 1:00 am
The first word that came to my mind was, heavenly.
I love how beautiful the hazelnuts look.
22 Kitt // Jan 25, 2008 at 1:51 am
Wow, those look deadly. But in a good way!
Thanks for the comment on my Flickr photo of gooey buns. I haven’t found the artisan bread book yet myself; I’ve just used the two recipes Jaden posted on SteamyKitchen.com (with the authors’ OK). So if you want to try the challah or caramel rolls, or mess around with the master dough otherwise, you can!
23 jennifer // Jan 25, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Thanks, Brilynn!
Tracy, you have my admiration. I stopped the pretense of the new year’s diet ages ago.
Emiline, thanks!
Kitt, that’s a great description! Right after I lamented to you that I couldn’t find that book, Quinn let me know that he found it and ordered it. It just got here yesterday! Very excited.
24 Indigo // Jan 26, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Is it really strange that I’m getting the urge to print off these photos in poster-size and stick them on my wall? They look SO GOOD ^__^
25 Indigo // Jan 26, 2008 at 12:50 pm
PS: Hope you don’t mind - I’ve added you to my blog roll =]
26 jennifer // Jan 26, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Thanks, Indigo!
27 Hendria // Jan 27, 2008 at 1:39 pm
I am going to make these….I am wondering where you get chocolate graham crackers?? I have looked here in Canada and only find the oreo crumbs?? Is this what you are talking about??
28 jennifer // Jan 27, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Hendria, chocolate graham crackers are usually right next to the other graham crackers. I know that Nabisco makes them, and my local grocery store has a store brand as well. I’m sure Oreo crumbs or chocolate wafer crumbs would be more than fine.
29 Hendria // Jan 28, 2008 at 1:11 pm
thanks…Jennifer I will look some more here….but the two stores I looked at did not have it…
30 Jessica // Feb 3, 2008 at 1:43 am
I couldn’t find chocolate graham crumbs here in China, but we do have Oreos. So I mashed up the peanut butter/chocolate filled oreos for the crust. Fortunately, we can get sweetened condensed milk at most every supermarket here. Then I did the cup (or more) of chocolate chips (or actually, a dark chocolate Dove bar…cheaper than the imported chocolate chips), peanuts and coconut for the topping.
All that to say, I guess I mostly used your recipe as inspiration. But I think you could substitute a whole lot of things in this kind of recipe and come out with a winner.
They were divine. Especially before they’d totally cooled and hardened. And our guests, both foreign and Chinese, really liked them.
31 jennifer // Feb 3, 2008 at 10:16 am
Jessica, your version sounds delicious! You’re absolutely right - these can be made with just about any combination of things. I’m glad you enjoyed them!
32 Tartelette // Feb 7, 2008 at 9:21 pm
*thud*…that’s my head banging on the screen….I neeeeed one now!!
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