Crack Pie Bars
User Reviews
3.4
Crack Pie Bars
Description
Crack Pie Bars start with a base made from finely crushed oatmeal cookies combined with melted butter and brown sugar, pressed firmly into a baking pan. The filling is crafted by creaming together room-temperature butter and sugars, then mixing in vanilla extract, milk powder, cornstarch, heavy cream, and beaten egg yolks. Baked initially at a higher temperature and then lowered, the filling cooks until golden and mostly firm with a slight jiggle. Once cooled, the bars are dusted with powdered sugar, providing a sweet finishing touch. The texture is a balance between a crumbly crust and a rich, slightly dense filling that slices neatly.
This dessert is a sweet indulgence that pairs well with coffee or tea and serves well as a baked treat for gatherings or special occasions. The filling's richness is complemented by the subtle oat flavor in the crust, giving it a distinctive texture combination. Cooling the bars completely before slicing helps to set the filling and achieve clean portions.
Ingredients
crust
- 15 oatmeal cookies (to make 1 1/2 cups crumbs)
- 3 Tbsp butter melted
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
filling
- 1/2 cup butter at room temperature, unsalted
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar do not pack
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 Tbsp milk powder dry
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 4 egg beaten well with a fork, yolk
garnish
- powdered sugar
Instructions
- Set oven to 350°F.
- Lightly spray a 9x9 square baking pan. You can line it with parchment for easy removal later for cutting, but this is optional.
- First make the crust. I crushed my cookies in my food processor. I wanted them to be super fine. You can do them any way you like, as long as you end up with 1 1/2 cups finely crushed cookies.
- Mix the crumbs with the melted butter and sugar and blend well. I do this right in the processor.
- Pat the crust firmly into the bottom of your pan.
- To make the filling,, cream the butter and sugars together until well combined. Work out any lumps in the brown sugar as you go.
- Blend in the rest of the ingredients and mix until everything is well incorporated.
- Pour the filling over the crust and bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 325F and open the door until it gets there.
- Close the oven door again and bake for another 10-15 minutes until the filling is golden and no longer very jiggly. (It can be a little jiggly in the center, but not all over)
- Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature, and then refrigerate until completely chilled. Dust with powdered sugar, slice into small squares and enjoy.
Notes
- Finely crushing the oatmeal cookies ensures a firm, even crust base.
- Room temperature butter is important for creaming with sugars to avoid lumps in the filling.
- Baking first at 350°F then lowering to 325°F allows the filling to set with a slightly golden top while maintaining a soft interior.
- Dusting with powdered sugar is best done after cooling to prevent melting.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 12servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 301 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 bar | |
| Calories | 301kcal | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 39g | 13% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 15g | 23% |
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Trans Fat | 0.4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 100mg | 33% |
| Sodium | 82mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 54mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 36g | 72% |
| Vitamin A | 535IU | 11% |
| Vitamin C | 0.1mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 40mg | 4% |
| Iron | 0.5mg | 3% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
3.4
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