Hoosier Bars

These sweet snack bars have a sweetened meringue-like layer dotted with chocolate chips and nuts.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup packed brown sugar - divided use
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 large eggs, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups (12 ounce package) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels - divided use
3/4 cup honey roasted peanuts - divided use

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Grease 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
2. Combine flour and baking soda in small bowl. Beat 1/2 cup brown sugar, sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl until creamy. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla extract. Gradually beat in flour mixture until crumbly. Stir in 1 1/2 cups morsels and 1/2 cup nuts. Press dough onto bottom of greased 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
3. Beat egg whites in small mixer bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining brown sugar until stiff peaks form; spread over dough. Sprinkle with remaining morsels and remaining nuts.
4. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until top is set and lightly browned. Cool in pan on wire rack for 20 minutes. Cut into bars while still warm.

Makes 36 bars.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/36 of recipe): Calories: 160 Calories from Fat: 70 Total Fat: 8 g Saturated Fat: 3.5 g Cholesterol: 20 mg Sodium: 75 mg Carbohydrates: 20 g Dietary Fiber: .5 g Sugars: 14 g Protein: 2 g

Recipe and photograph are the property of Nestlé® and Meals.com, used with permission.