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Neapolitan Bars

Neapolitan Bars
The colors of the season featured in this moist bars, which are layered with cherry and apricot preserves.—Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania
48 ServingsPrep: 30 min. Bake: 30 min. + chilling

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 to 2 drops green food coloring
  • 1 to 2 drops red food coloring
  • 1/3 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped maraschino cherries, patted dry
  • 1/3 cup flaked coconut
  • 1/2 teaspoon rum extract
  • 1/4 cup cherry preserves
  • 1/4 cup apricot preserves

Directions

  • Line a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan with waxed paper; grease the
  • paper and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt;
  • gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
  • Divide dough in thirds. Tint one portion green and one portion red;
  • leave the remaining portion white. Add chocolate chips to green
© Taste of Home 2013

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Neapolitan Bars (continued)

Directions (continued)

  • portion, cherries to red portion and coconut and rum extract to
  • white portion. Spread one portion into prepared pan. Bake at
  • 350° for 7-9 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
  • Immediately invert onto a wire rack and remove waxed paper. Place
  • another wire rack on top and turn over. Cool completely. Repeat with
  • remaining portions, preparing pan each time.
  • Place pink layer on a large piece of plastic wrap, about 30 in. long.
  • Spread with cherry preserves. Top with white layer and spread with
  • apricot preserves. Top with green layer. Bring plastic over layers.
  • Slide onto a baking sheet and set a cutting board on top to compress
  • layers. Refrigerate overnight.
  • With a sharp knife, trim 1/4 in. from each edge. Cut into bars. Store
  • in an airtight container. Yield: 4 dozen.
Nutrition Facts: 1 bar equals 94 calories, 5 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 14 mg cholesterol, 69 mg sodium, 13 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 1 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1/2 fat.
© Taste of Home 2013