Mud Hen Bars
Indulge in the irresistible charm of Mud Hen Bars, a nostalgic dessert bar that layers soft, buttery shortbread with gooey mini marshmallows and a crackly brown sugar meringue topping. These crowd-pleasing bars are the ultimate fusion of crunchy, chewy, and sweet, making them a perfect treat for gatherings or an easy dessert to whip up on a whim. With just 15 minutes of prep time and simple pantry staples like flour, eggs, brown sugar, and butter, this recipe delivers a showstopping homemade dessert with minimal effort. Serve them sliced into perfect squares and watch them become an instant favorite!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 eggs, separated
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease or line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
Add the egg yolks (reserve the whites for later) and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and mix until fully incorporated.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until a soft, crumbly dough forms.
Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
Sprinkle the mini marshmallows over the dough layer, evenly covering the surface.
In a medium bowl, whisk the reserved egg whites on high speed until soft peaks form.
Gently fold the brown sugar into the whipped egg whites until combined, creating a light meringue.
Spread the meringue mixture evenly over the marshmallows, covering the entire surface.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the meringue topping is golden brown and set.
Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before slicing into 16 squares and serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2206 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 1.4 g | 2% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.2 g | 1% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1302 mg | 57% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 537.1 g | 195% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.3 g | 12% | |
| Total Sugars | 427.5 g | ||
| Protein | 23.4 g | 47% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 189 mg | 15% | |
| Iron | 7.1 mg | 39% | |
| Potassium | 566 mg | 12% | |
*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.
