Angel Bars

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I'm so new to this blog thing, that a month or so ago, I was thinking "12 Days of Christmas Cookies" would be a terrific, and, yes, novel idea. I was all gung ho about posting 12 of my very favorite cookie recipes all in a row. One of those recipes was going to be the ever-so-fabulous Angel Bars.

These are Angel Bars:

Then the cookie recipes started to appear online. Twelve days' worth, in more cases than not. Even the Food Network was doing it! Wind, sails, bye bye.

The truth is, it's darn near impossible to dream up a unique idea out here in Blogland. But you know what? I've decided that's actually pretty cool. It's such a testament to all the awesome people who are thinking and writing their heads off every single day. And when I finally do come up with an idea so unique that I can't find it anywhere? I'll really have something to be proud of.

Or it'll be so nutty that you'll run for the hills.

Would you like the recipe for Angel Bars? I've been making these for years and years. Since before I got a dog I named Angelyne and who would come to be known as Angel. This is a picture of Angel that I snapped yesterday:

Angel's my miracle dog. She was a Christmas present 13 years ago, and even though I was in my early 20s at the time, I pretty much grew up with her. And more than two years ago, she was diagnosed with canine lymphoma. I thought if she lasted a year, it'd be a miracle – the statistics are pretty dismal.

Instead, she's still with us, and growing to a ripe old age. I think if she were human, she'd be one of those old ladies who wear purple. She's become quite the spunky ol' broad. Here she is playing at the ocean with her little sis Lizzie. And after this picture, it's back to the cookies. Promise!

(I love my pooches!)

Anyway, no worries – the only thing Angel Bars and Angel the Dog have in common is the name, and the fact that I desperately try to keep her hair out of them when I'm making them. Dog hair is such a baking hazard.

Angel Bars are a crazy fabulous concoction of graham cracker crust topped with chocolate, coconut, and pecans. Then you pour a can of sweetened condensed milk over the top, which is really where the magic happens.

Yum.

Here's the recipe (I know, finally, right?!)

Angel Bars

Makes about 3 dozen squares, depending on how small you cut them

Ingredients:

• 3 cups (two sleeves) graham crackers
• 1 cup salted butter or 1 cup unsalted butter + 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
• 1 cup pecans, chopped
• 2 cups flaked coconut
• 1 – 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Put the graham crackers in a Ziploc bag and crush with a glass or a rolling pin.
3. In a medium bowl, melt the butter (or butter and salt).
4. Pour the graham cracker crumbs into the bowl with the melted butter, and mix well.
5. Grease a 9×13 pan.
6. Press the graham cracker crumbs in the bottom of the pan.
7. Scatter the chocolate chips over the graham cracker layer.

   

8. Evenly distribute the coconut layer next.
9. Sprinkle on the pecans.
10. And then pour the sweetened condensed milk over it all.

    

11. Bake for 25 minutes.
12. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
13. Cut into squares and store in an air-tight container.

    

I do love these cookies.

 
But, and I'm sure this comes as no surprise, I love my miracle Angel infinitely more.