Everyone needs a dessert recipe they can turn to that is quick and delicious. This recipe for moist and chewy Coconut Blondies is one of those. I think they’re really good exactly as written, but extra good with 3/4 cup of chocolate chips added to the dough. The recipe calls for toasted pecans but I don’t bother with that; I just use regular pecan halves and chop them in my handy nut grinder (see my post for the nut grinder under Cooking Gadgets).

Coconut Blondies
-recipe from Gourmet Magazine - epicurious.com

Yield: Makes 32 (2-inch) squares

2 sticks (1/2 pound) unsalted butter
2 cups packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups pecans (6 ounces), toasted and cooled
2 cups sweetened flaked coconut, divided

Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Butter and flour a 13- by 9-inch baking pan.

Melt butter in a 3-qt heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring, until smooth. Remove from heat and cool to lukewarm. Whisk in brown sugar and vanilla. Whisk in eggs 1 at a time until mixture is glossy and smooth.

Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt, then whisk into butter mixture. Stir in pecans and 1 1/2 cups coconut.

Spread in pan and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup coconut. Bake until a pick inserted in center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool completely.

Tags: bar cookies, coconut, coconut blondies, pecans

During the holidays, time is a commodity. With so much hustle and bustle, I like to have a few recipes in my holiday baking repertoire that can yield maximum quantity with minimum kitchen time. That’s why I like bar cookies because you can whip up the batter, put it in a baking pan, bake the bars and be done with it. These Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cheese Bars are extra great because not only are they delicious but they’re festive-looking, too. I love the flavor combination of cranberries, chocolate and a hint of orange. These bars will be a great addition to your holiday cookie platter!

Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cheese Bars
-recipe from verybestbaking.com
Yields 36 bars

A tasty treat for fall and winter holidays. A crunchy chocolate chip, cranberry and orange-scented bar is balanced with a lightly sweetened layer of cream cheese.

1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups quick or old-fashioned oats
2 teaspoons grated orange peel
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 cup OCEAN SPRAY® CRAISINS® Sweetened Dried Cranberries
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 can (14 oz.) NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Sweetened Condensed Milk

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

BEAT butter and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in flour, oats and orange peel until crumbly. Stir in morsels and cranberries; reserve 2 cups mixture. Press remaining mixture onto bottom of prepared baking pan.

BAKE for 15 minutes. Beat cream cheese in small mixer bowl until smooth. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk. Pour over hot crust; sprinkle with reserved flour mixture. Bake for additional 25 to 30 minutes or until center is set. Cool in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.

Tags: bar cookies, chocolate chips, cranberries