Christmas Seven Layer Bars

 

Hello all–  These are my problem cookies!  First of all, they just don’t make a pretty photo so you have no idea how yummy they really are.  And secondly, I have a pan-full in my fridge and just about every single time (which is often) I walk into my kitchen, I stop and eat just one!  If I weigh 15 pounds more by New Years it’s the fault of these cookies (or could the fault be my lack of self control??)

So these are really just those 7 layer magic bars you’ve seen a thousand times, but in a Christmas-y disguise.  They’re not exactly fine baking– but if you like white chocolate (and I do), they are pretty scrumptious.  Love the cranberry and the orange peel is the perfect foil to all that sweetness.  Merry Christmas!

CHRISTMAS SEVEN LAYER BARS
1  1/2 cup crushed graham cracker crumbs (1 pack–9 crackers)
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 cups white chocolate chips (12 oz. bag)
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup dried cherries or dried cranberries
2 tab. grated orange peel (about 1 orange)
1 cup pecans, chopped
14 oz. can condensed milk

Stir together the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter.  Press the mixture into a 9″x13″ baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.

Then layer on the white chocolate chips, coconut, cranberries, pecans and orange peel.  Drizzle the condensed milk evenly over the whole baking dish. Smoosh it down with the back of a spoon.

Pop it into the oven at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, just until the edges start to brown (keep an eye on it!)  Let it all cool before you cut nice neat little squares.

P.S. Store the leftovers in a storage container in a single layer in the fridge.

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White Chocolate Banana Bread

Hey there– It was those black bananas moldering on the counter that got me going to pop this into the oven.  It’s my mom’s banana bread with a little extra– white chocolate and crunchy walnuts.  When it comes out of the oven, sweet and warm, it’s scrumptious.

WHITE CHOCOLATE BANANA BREAD
2 bananas, the riper the better
1/2 cup canola oil
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup flour
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

Smash the bananas with a fork in a large mixing bowl.  Stir in the oil, eggs and sugar.  Then add the flour, baking powder and salt.  Finally fold in the white chocolate chips and walnuts.  Spoon it into 1 large standard bread pan or two smaller pans that have been sprayed with cooking spray.  And bake it up at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes.

My mom’s been making this recipe for years.  My sis, Lulu and I still talk about the rainy day our usually very sensible mom baked up a big pan of banana bread and served it with whipped cream for lunch!  So much better than our normal bologna sandwiches.  It was unforgettable…