Kitchen Sink Cookie Bars

December 18, 2017

 

Andy has been in school for less than a year. Granted, it is only 3 year old preschool, but still. It totally counts.

Have you ever experienced a little bit of the “Mommy Wars?” Moms are not being mean to me or anything, but I still get this feeling of every time you enter school the game of comparisons starts.

“What kind of shoes is she wearing?” “Look who didn’t shower today.”

It might just be me, too. Most problems in my life are usually all in my head.

Back around Halloween, Andy had his school party. First off, I swear to God that the teacher never said parents could come in at the start of class and take pictures of all the kids in costumes. So, at drop off, I dropped off and scooted off to get Jack home for a nap.

Like I always do.

A little back story, if you don’t remember, Andy was having a tough time at drop off so any day without tears was a victory. Hence, no tears equals I’m outta here.

Guilt free.

Ok, so I missed the party picture. At pick up Andy walked to the car with his big bag of Halloween party goodies. We started going through the treats and separating them into categories and grouping similar candies together.

As one does with Halloween candy.

Now, when it says bring a treat/candy to share with the class, what do you think?

I sent Andy to school with one little bag of Sour Patch Kids per child. He came home with Ziploc bags full of candy!!! What the what?

My face was red, I felt bad. Not for myself, I felt bad that Andy was now the cheap kid. Just one small bag of candy? Come on, Mom!

I think I more than made up for it with his birthday. He brought in Hershey’s Kiss filled candy canes. No nuts and every kid loves getting something big like that, right?

Cut to two weeks later and now we have to bring in more treats for Christmas. Ugh!

Slime?

Play-doh?

More candy?

I feel like I am sick of all three.

Yet, I gotta keep up with these other moms who are shopping that Target dollar spot like nobody’s business. Can’t have Andy being known as the one small bag of candy kid again.

I wish I could send him to school with a whole bunch of home baked cookies and these cookie bars, but no nuts. So, you know what that means?

I will just be stress eating these cookie bars while he is at school, hoping we did enough, until he comes home with that bag full of goodies from the party. So then, I can turn and judge all the treats.

Don’t lie. We all judge.

It’s ok. It is all a part of the most wonderful time of the year.

Kitchen Sink Cookie Bars

Chewy and crisp kitchen sink cookie bars loaded with lots of oats, chocolate chunks, coconut, and pecans.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 12 -16 Bars

Ingredients

  • 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1 Cup Unsalted Butter at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 Cups Lightly Packed Brown Sugar
  • 2 Large Eggs room temperature
  • 1 Tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 2 Cups Pecan Halves toasted and chopped
  • 8 Ounces Bittersweet or Semisweet Chocolate Chunks
  • 2 Cups Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats
  • 2 Cups Unsweetened Shredded Coconut

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13x9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and line with parchment paper.
  2. While the oven preheats, add your pecans to the prepared baking dish. Toast them for about 3-4 minutes until golden and fragrant. Transfer to a cutting board and give them a rough chop.
  3. In a small bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  4. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.
  5. Add the vanilla and eggs, beat until combined, scraping down sides as needed.
  6. Add the flour mixture to the mixer. Mix slowly until almost combined.
  7. Add in the oats, coconut, chocolate, and chopped pecans. Mix until combined.
  8. Spread the batter in the prepared dish in one even layer. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown along the edges.
  9. Lift the bars by the parchment out of the pan and move to a wire rack. Cool completely before cutting into 12-16 bars.

Recipe from Bakers Royale 

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  • Ashleigh
    December 18, 2017 at 11:12 pm

    Girl, just wait!!! I *wish* I could just bake some bombass cookies for every event, but no. I have to drop $10+ for a class party. Times 3. Grrr. If they try to rope you into the PTA, ruuuun!

    • Stefanie
      December 20, 2017 at 1:57 pm

      oh man… no PTA for me.