CELESTIAL BARS

Celestial Bars image

My aunt gave me the recipe for these wonderfully nutty bars. With their marbled base, fluffy icing and pretty chocolate glaze, they're the stars of bake sales, cookie gift packs and parties.

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 55m

Yield 4 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 17

Ingredients

1/3 cup butter, softened
2 cups packed brown sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups chopped pecans
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
ICING:
1/2 cup butter, softened
3 cups confectioners' sugar
3 to 4 tablespoons 2% milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
GLAZE:
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 teaspoons shortening

Steps:

In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extracts. Combine flour and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in pecans (batter will be thick). , Divide batter in half; stir chocolate into one portion. Alternately spoon plain and chocolate batters into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Swirl with a knife. , Bake at 350° for 16-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack. , For icing, in a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in milk and vanilla until smooth. Spread over bars. , For glaze, melt chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave; stir until smooth. Drizzle over bars. Let stand until chocolate is completely set before cutting into bars.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 155 calories, Fat 7g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 22mg cholesterol, Sodium 65mg sodium, Carbohydrate 22g carbohydrate (17g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 1g protein.