Anyway, as part of being a "playgroup host" we provide drinks and snacks for the group. I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to take to the pool that the adults as well as kids would like and the lifeguards wouldn't hate me for! I decided on taking a fruit (watermelon), salty snack (goldfish) and sweet snack (Butter Pecan Bars). I prefer to make cookie bars in the summer so I don't have to open and close the oven and stay in the oven to switch trays every 10 minutes!
The inspiration recipe is actually a Chocolate & Oat Toffee Bars, but I modified it a little, so the below version is what I actually made.
Easy Butter Pecan Bars
Ingredients
- 3/4 c butter, room temperature
- 2 T butter per each type of chocolate you are using for the topping
- 1 package Butter Pecan box cake mix (I used Betty Crocker)
- 2 c uncooked quick-cooking oats
- 1/4 c brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 t vanilla
- 1 c butterscotch chips
- 1/2 c chopped pecans
- 1/3 c semisweet chocolate chips, 1/3 c butterscotch chips, 1/3 c white chocolate chips
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350. Grease 9×13” pan.
- Stir 3/4 c butter in a large bowl with a spatula until creamy. If necessary, stick in the microwave to soften a little, 10 seconds at a time.
- Add cake mix, oats, brown sugar, egg and vanilla; stir until well blended.
- Stir in butterscotch chips and pecans. Batter will be thick and almost dough-like.
- Pat dough into prepared pan.
- Bake 31-35 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from oven and cool completely in pan on wire rack.
- Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter and white chocolate chips in small saucepan over very low heat.
- Drizzle warm glaze over bars. Repeat with butterscotch chips and chocolate chips.
- Let glaze set one hour at room temperature, or stick in the fridge to speed this process up a little.
- Cut into bars with sharp knife, serve and enjoy!