Festive Cookie Bars
Source: Treasury of Christmas Recipes (Beekman House)
Bottom Layer:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
Dash salt
2/3 cup butter or margarine
2 tablespoons cold coffee or water
1 egg yolk
1 pkg (12-ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
Top Layer:
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 eggs plus 1 egg white
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts
Powdered sugar, for garnish
To prepare bottom layer: In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
In small bowl, mix coffee and egg yolk to blend; stir into flour mixture to moisten evenly.
Form dough into a roll. With floured fingertips, press evenly onto bottom of greased 15x10 inch jelly roll pan. (Layer will be thin.)
Bake in preheated 350 oven for 10 minutes.
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.
To Prepare top layer: In large bowl, cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Beat in eggs and egg white, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. (Mixture will appear slightly curdled.)
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.
Dust with powdered sugar. Cut into bars.
Makes about 3 1/2 to 4 dozen bars.