Best Boy Scout Bars Recipes

BLACK FOREST BARS

Steps:

• Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 sides; coat with cooking spray. Whisk the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, almond flour and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to medium low; beat in the flour mixture until combined.
• Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking dish in a thin layer with damp hands. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake until the chocolate layer is set, 25 to 30 minutes; let cool completely in the pan.
• Meanwhile, combine the jam, dried cherries, lemon juice, cornstarch, almond extract and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the dried cherries soften and the mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Spread over the chocolate layer and let cool completely.
• Lift the bars out of the pan using the foil. Put the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until smooth; drizzle on the bars. Let stand until the chocolate sets, then cut into squares.

BOY SCOUT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl beat butter with sugars. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Gradually beat in dry ingredients. Fold in chips. Pour batter into a greased 9 1/2x113-inch baking pan. In a small bowl mix condensed milk with coconut. Pour coconut topping over batter and smooth evenly. Bake for 25 minutes. Cool and cut into bars.

RASPBERRY-FIG BARS

Steps:

• Make the dough: Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour mixture and beat until just combined. Divide the dough in half and shape into two 2-by-6-inch rectangles. Wrap each rectangle in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Combine the dried figs, jam and juice in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the juice is syrupy, about 25 minutes. Let cool slightly, then transfer to a food processor and puree until smooth. Set aside to cool completely.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly flour 1 piece of dough and roll it out between 2 sheets of parchment paper into a 4-by-12-inch rectangle. Repeat with the remaining dough. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Remove the top pieces of parchment and trim the edges of the dough rectangles. Spread the filling lengthwise down the center of each dough rectangle in a 2-inch-wide strip. Brush the long edges lightly with the beaten egg. Fold 1 long side of dough over the filling, then fold over the other long side; press gently to seal. Place both logs seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet, a few inches apart, and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bake the cookie logs until golden brown, rotating the pan halfway through, about 20 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes on the pan. Transfer the logs to a cutting board; slice into 1-inch pieces and transfer to racks to cool completely.