Festive Cookie Bars

Festive, layered cookie bars with chocolate chips, walnuts and raisins.

Recipe Ingredients:

Bottom Layer:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
Dash salt
2/3 cup butter or margarine
2 tablespoons cold coffee or water
1 large egg yolk
2 cups (12-ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

Top Layer:
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs plus 1 large egg white
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts
Powdered sugar for garnish

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 15 x 10 x 1-inch jelly roll pan; set aside.
2. To prepare bottom layer, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. In small bowl, mix coffee and egg yolk to blend; stir into flour mixture to moisten evenly.
4. Form dough into a roll. With floured fingertips, press evenly onto bottom of prepared pan. (Layer will be thin.)
5. Bake for 10 minutes.
6. Sprinkle chocolate pieces evenly over crust; return to oven 2 minutes to melt chocolate. Remove from oven; spread evenly with spatula. Allow to stand several minutes to set.
7. To Prepare top layer, cream butter, sugar and vanilla in large mixing bowl. Beat in eggs and egg white, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. (Mixture will appear slightly curdled.)
8. Stir in raisins and walnuts. Spread evenly over chocolate layer. Return to oven; bake 20 to 25 minutes or until top is browned.Cool completely in pan on wire rack.
9. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired. Cut into bars.

Makes 48 bars.