Cafe au Lait Bars...Cookie Companion, from AJC site, attr to KA
Submitted by bettina on December 17, 2004 at 7:32 am

DESCRIPTION
Cafe au Lait Bars...Cookie Companion, from AJC site, attr to KA

SUMMARY
Yield 0 File under Cookies Brownies Bars

INSTRUCTIONS
24 bars

Hands on: 20 minutes

Photo: LOUIE FAVORITE/AJC
/Styling: JEANNE BESSER/AJC
(ENLARGE)

EMAIL THIS
PRINT THIS
MOST POPULAR

Related:
• More on food and drink
• Search ajc.com's recipes

Total time: 45 minutes

These not-too-sweet bars have the familiar flavor of coffee laced with cream. Dress them up with a sprinkle of chocolate chips or a dusting of confectioners' sugar.

3 eggs

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup instant coffee crystals

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch pan.

In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs until light-colored and thick. Add the sugar, beating until glossy and thick. Add vanilla and butter, beating to combine. Stir in the flour and salt. Scrape down beater and sides of bowl and stir to incorporate. Set aside 1 1/2 cups of batter. Stir together the coffee crystals and cream and add to the remaining batter. Spread the coffee batter into prepared pan. Spoon the reserved batter over and then run a knife through the two batters to marble them. Sprinkle with nuts.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the center is set. Cool before cutting.

Per bar: 157 calories (percent of calories from fat, 42), 2 grams protein, 21 grams carbohydrates, trace fiber, 7 grams fat (4 grams saturated), 42 milligrams cholesterol, 54 milligrams sodium.

From "The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion" (Countryman Press, $29.95)