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Makeover Chocolate Layer Bars Recipe

Makeover Chocolate Layer Bars Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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Our makeover recipe boasts all the delicious decadent flavor of Anita Nickless' original bars but with 38 percent less fat and 75 fewer calories each. Now friends and family in Platte City, Missouri can enjoy them guilt-free! Healthy Cooking Test Kitchen

This recipe is:

Healthy

Diabetic Friendly

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Makeover Chocolate Layer Bars Recipe

Prep: 35 min. Bake: 15 min. + cooling

Yield: 40 Servings

35 15 50

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
CREAMY LAYER:
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup reduced-fat butter, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons fat-free milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
FROSTING:
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, cubed
1/3 cup fat-free milk
1/4 cup baking cocoa
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, applesauce and vanilla until well blended. Combine the flour, cocoa and baking soda; add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.
Pour into a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.
For creamy layer, in a small bowl, beat the butters, confectioners' sugar, milk, and vanilla until fluffy, about 4 minutes. Spread over top of cake.
For frosting, in a small heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, butter, milk and cocoa. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat; stir in chocolate chips until melted.
With a hand mixer, beat frosting for 2-4 minutes or until thickened. Gently spread over the top. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 40 bars.

Editor's Note: This recipe was tested with Land O'Lakes light stick butter.

Nutritional Facts 1 bar equals 175 calories, 8 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 27 mg cholesterol, 94 mg sodium, 27 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 starch, 1-1/2 fat.

Originally published as Makeover Chocolate Layer Bars in Healthy Cooking June/July 2008, p6

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Makeover Chocolate Layer Bars

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Reviewed on Feb. 03, 2013 by TheBrat56

Diabetic friendly???? Around 30 carbs in one piece?? Not only is this not friendly to a diabetic, it could be dangerous w/ all this sugar.

Reviewed on Nov. 10, 2012 by meyerdo

Agree - 40 servings. Must be very small servings. Whoever posted picture shoul show the actual serving size as well as give actual dimensions of serving.

Reviewed on Apr. 04, 2009 by wiscook

40 servings? give me a break, that's crazy, no one will cut them that small. I too had trouble with the layers, will try the suggestion.

Reviewed on Jan. 05, 2009 by khandia

I too had problems with the layers but then I started putting the whole pan in the fridge after adding the white layer and letting it get good and cold. Then I quickly add the chocolate layer on top and spread that VERY fast. Back in the fridge. Comes out.

Reviewed on Dec. 12, 2008 by 4sherilyn

This is delicious but I always have trouble with the white and chocolate layer so I started swirling the two on the top. It's easier and it looks pretty also.

Reviewed on Sep. 17, 2008 by kathimax

It doesn't mention cooling the chocolate frosting at all, and when I put it on top, it seemed to work at first, then it heated the creamy layer and it all slid off the sides of my poor cake!