Garbage Squares
Meet your new favorite dessert bar: Garbage Squares! This delightfully chaotic recipe is a sweet and salty masterpiece that uses pantry staples to create the ultimate crowd-pleaser. A rich, buttery batter forms the base for an irresistible blend of toppings, including gooey mini marshmallows, dark chocolate chips, crunchy crushed pretzels, shredded coconut, and your choice of chopped nuts. Quick to whip up with just 15 minutes of prep time, these bars bake to golden perfection in under 30 minutes, making them the perfect last-minute treat for parties, bake sales, or indulgent afternoon snacking. Each bite delivers a harmony of textures and flavors, from soft and chewy to crisp and crunchy. Customize your toppings to suit your cravings, and watch these Garbage Squares become the ultimate dessert everyone can’t get enough of!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 whole large eggs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 cup chocolate chips
- 0.5 cup shredded coconut
- 0.5 cup pretzels (roughly crushed)
- 0.5 cup mini marshmallows
- 0.5 cup nuts (e.g., chopped almonds, walnuts, or peanuts)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease or line a 9x9-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Once melted, remove it from the heat and mix in the brown sugar until smooth and combined.
Let the butter and sugar mixture cool for a few minutes, then whisk in the vanilla extract and eggs, one at a time, until fully incorporated.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until a smooth batter forms.
Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
Sprinkle your selected toppings (chocolate chips, shredded coconut, crushed pretzels, mini marshmallows, and nuts) evenly across the surface of the batter. Gently press the toppings into the batter with clean hands or the back of a spoon.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
Allow the Garbage Squares to cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes before slicing into bars or squares.
Serve immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
307 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 15.4 g | 20% | |
| Saturated Fat | 8.3 g | 41% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 52 mg | 17% | |
| Sodium | 221 mg | 10% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 41.0 g | 15% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.8 g | 7% | |
| Total Sugars | 26.7 g | ||
| Protein | 4.0 g | 8% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.3 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 37 mg | 3% | |
| Iron | 1.7 mg | 9% | |
| Potassium | 160 mg | 3% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
