chocolate

Not Halloween? Skip the Candy Corn and use full cup of chocolate chips, M&Ms or broken-up candy bars. ; o )

Frightfully Delicious Halloween Bars are gooey, chewy and chocolatey. Imagine combining a recipe for brownies with a recipe for chocolate cake (which includes a stick of butter) – then sprinkling on mini-marshmallows, nuts and chocolate chips – and you’ll have a good idea of how good these taste.

Oven at 350 (F) Greased 9′ x 9′ pan Yield – 20 pieces

Bake for 22 minutes, remove pan from oven. Add toppings – bake for a further 4 to 5 minutes.

INGREDIENTS

Topping

1 1/4 cups miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips ++ I use ‘Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate
1/2 cup candy corn
1/2 cup chopped nuts – your choice

Cake

1/2 cup butter (or margarine) ++ 1 stick
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

METHOD

Place 1 1/4 cups mini-marshmallows in a small bowl. In another small bowl, combine 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, 1/2 cup candy corn and 1/2 cup chopped nuts. Set aside both bowls.

Place 1/2 cup butter or margarine in a microwavable bowl. Melt butter for 30 seconds, until melted. Add 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs and 1 tsp. vanilla extract. Mix with a fork or whisk until well-blended and lemon-colored.

Add 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, 1/2 tsp. baking powder and 1/2 tsp. salt. Mix with a whisk or spoon until well blended. Pour batter into greased 9′ x 9″ pan.

Bake at 350 (F) for 22 minutes.

Remove pan from oven. Sprinkle on 1 1/4 cups miniature marshmallows, then sprinkle on mixture of 1/2 cup candy corn, 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips and 1/2 cup chopped nuts.

Return pan to oven for 4 – 5 minutes, until mini-marshmallows are softened and slightly puffed. Cool completely on wire rack. Fill a mug with very hot water. Cut into 16 or 20 pieces.

++ Dip a sharp knife into hot water before each new cut. ++ Between each cut you may need to wipe off knife. ++ Don’t get frustrated by the stickiness of the marshmallows, just take your time! And keep rewetting the knife in the hot water! Enjoy!!!