It’s always great to see new and creative recipes. And when those recipes can win you $5000, that’s even better. Betty Crocker recently sponsored a contest that awarded that prize to the most original and tasty recipe. Called Mix It Up With Betty, the contest called for entrants to use any of the Betty Crocker Cookie Mixes, and add additional ingredients, decorations and serving ideas.

The winner was Anna Ginsberg with her Chocolate-Topped Peanut-Toffee Bars. You can see the recipes for all winners and finalists on the Betty Crocker website, and start working on your entry for the next contest in November. For inspiration, try the delicious winning bars.

Prep Time: 30 min
Start to Finish: 3 hr 15 min
Makes: 32 bars

Ingredients:

Cookie Base
1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® peanut butter cookie mix
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon water
1 egg

Filling
1 cup butter, cut into small pieces
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups lightly crushed potato chips
1 cup salted peanuts

Topping
1 bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of 13×9-inch pan with cooking spray.
2. In large bowl, stir cookie base ingredients until soft dough forms. Press dough in bottom of pan. Bake 10 minutes or just until dough is set.
3. Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar. Heat to boiling, stirring frequently. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly.
4. Sprinkle potato chips and peanuts over partially baked base. Pour brown sugar mixture over chips and peanuts. Bake 15 minutes longer or until surface is bubbly.
5. Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over chips and peanuts; return to oven for 2 minutes to soften chocolate. Spread chocolate over filling. Cool completely, about 2 hours. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until chocolate is set. For bars, cut into 8 rows by 4 rows. Store covered at room temperature.

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): In step 2, bake 12 minutes. In step 5, return to oven for 3 minutes.

Tips:

• Refrigerate bars for 30 minutes to set the chocolate so cutting and serving are a snap.
• Line the pan with foil, leaving the edge of the foil above the rim of the pan on two opposite sides. Lightly grease foil in pan. Bake bars as directed. When cool, use foil “handles” to remove the bars from the pan. Cutting and cleanup are easy.

Nutrition Information:
1 Serving: Calories 260 (Calories from Fat 140); Total Fat 16g (Saturated Fat 7g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 20mg; Sodium 150mg; Total Carbohydrate 26g (Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugars 19g); Protein 3g
Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 4%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 0%; Iron 4%

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Exchanges: 1 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 1/2 High-Fat Meat; 2 1/2 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 2

Image and recipes courtesy of General Mills and Betty Crocker

Post from: Chocolate Bytes