Man Bars

Time flies!  It seems like just yesterday I was posting my Roasted Cabbage Wedge Salad for our Spring Edition of #FreakyFriday.  And here we are, summer already.  I'm sure we'll be getting ready for the Fall Edition before we know it.  If you aren't familiar with #FreakyFriday, each person in the group is assigned a blog to make a recipe from.  Only everything is a big secret.  And today is the day we reveal our recipes, not only with all of you but with each other.  It's always a lot of fun to see who had what blog and what recipe they chose to make.  Bonus for all of you, because you get to meet some new bloggers and see some great new recipes.  So, without further adieu....

This time around I was assigned the Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies blog, which is so fun because during the Spring Edition of #FreakyFriday, Kris was assigned my blog and she made my Creamy Corn Dip and her post was so flattering and wonderful.  I looked at all of the fabulous recipes on her blog and I was really torn between doing a dessert (since I love to bake I'm always looking for dessert recipes) and her Green Taco Roll Ups.  Because they use green chiles and you know how much I love green chiles!  Kris is from Wisconsin and I considered making Cheese Curd Stuffed Beef 'n Brat Burger, since that is truly a recipe from her part of the country.  We love bratwurst, and this burger just sounds amazing.  Cheese curds aren't too easy to find in Oklahoma though, so I settled on Man Bars.  The name totally intrigued me, and since Father's Day is in June I decided Man Bars were totally appropriate!

When I read Kris' post, she had made these bars for a Fill the Cookie Jar challenge that happened to be in June.  She also chose this recipe with Father's Day in mind.  That's how I knew I had selected the perfect recipe.  Great baking minds think alike!  Now I've told you before that my hubby likes sweets but he doesn't like anything super rich like fudge or flour-less chocolate cake.  When I looked at the ingredients, I was worried the bars might be too sweet since they call for a whole can of condensed milk, but I was wrong.  They have the perfect amount of sweetness.  They are chocolate-y, complimented with the crunch of graham cracker crumbs.  We all know how well chocolate and graham crackers pair together!  I actually might add some mini marshmallows next time.  Since we're already 2/3 of the way to a s'more.

The only change I made in the recipe is with the walnuts.  Kris' version called for 1/2 cup of finely chopped walnuts, but picky 'ol Mr. Devilish Dish does not like nuts so I left them out.  I definitely think they would be delicious edition though.  Or chopped pecans like we eat in everything down here in Oklahoma. 

As I mentioned earlier, the bars aren't terribly sweet.  Rolling them in powdered sugar not only makes an attractive treat, but it truly gives them the perfect level of sweetness.  Not too rich, but a totally satisfying dessert or snack.  You might want to cut them kind of small though.  I cut them fairly big so they would make a pretty picture.

I even added a hammer and tape measure to the photo shoot so my bars would be "extra manly."  Not only are these bars the ideal treat for Dad on Father's Day, they are a great treat any time of year.  Simple to make with only a handful of ingredients.  And they look pretty on a platter too.  Even though they are "manly."  Thank you to Kris at Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies for the terrific inspiration!

Man Bars

by: Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 cup miniature chocolate chips
1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-2 cups powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.  In a large bowl combine graham cracker crumbs, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, walnuts, condensed milk, and vanilla.  Press into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes.  Let cool.  Remove bars from pan and cut into small squares.  Place powdered sugar in a small bowl.  Roll bars in sugar before serving.

#FreakyFriday Participating Bloggers:

 An Affair from the Heart
A Dish of Daily Life
Aunt Bee's Recipes
LeMoine Family Kitchen
Cooking On A Budget
Take Two Tapas
Who Needs A Cape?
A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
Lisa's Dinnertime Dish
Tampa Cake Girl
Full Belly Sisters
Pic-Nic
Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies
The Devilish Dish
Platter Talk. A Culinary Blog. Food, Wine, Friends



I hope you'll give these fabulous bars a try.  Be sure to visit all of the blogs for some delicious new inspirations.  Hop on over and see Kris at Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies.  I know she would love to hear from you!






 

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