Celestial Bars

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 35 min. Bake: 20 min. + cooling

MAKES: 48 servings

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

Directions

1. 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).
2. Divide batter in half; stir chocolate into one portion. Alternately spoon plain and chocolate batters into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Swirl with a knife.
3. Bake at 350° for 16-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.
4. 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.
5. 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. Yield: 4 dozen.