Vacuum Cleaner Bar Cookies
Packed with pantry-friendly ingredients and bursting with texture, Vacuum Cleaner Bar Cookies are the ultimate fusion of sweet, salty, chewy, and crunchy goodness. This customizable dessert combines shredded coconut, dried fruit, chopped nuts, crushed pretzels, and gooey chocolate chips, all folded into a buttery, golden-brown cookie base. Perfect for using up odds and ends in your kitchen, these bar cookies are easy to whip up in just 15 minutes of prep time and bake to perfection in under half an hour. Whether served as an afternoon snack or a crowd-pleasing treat, these decadent bars are sure to satisfy every craving. Plus, they store beautifully, making them an ideal make-ahead dessert solution!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup All-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 cup Unsalted butter, melted
- 0.75 cup Brown sugar, packed
- 0.25 cup Granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 1 unit Large egg
- 0.5 cup Chocolate chips
- 0.25 cup Shredded coconut
- 0.25 cup Chopped nuts (e.g., walnuts, pecans, or almonds)
- 0.25 cup Dried fruit (e.g., raisins or cranberries)
- 0.25 cup Crushed pretzels
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8x8-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, mix the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until well combined.
Add the vanilla extract and the egg to the wet mixture. Beat until smooth and creamy.
Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. Do not overmix.
Fold in the chocolate chips, shredded coconut, chopped nuts, dried fruit, and crushed pretzels.
Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
Remove the pan from the oven and allow the cookies to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
Once cooled, cut into 12 bars and serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
270 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 13.6 g | 17% | |
| Saturated Fat | 7.6 g | 38% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 37 mg | 12% | |
| Sodium | 180 mg | 8% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 36.2 g | 13% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.4 g | 5% | |
| Total Sugars | 24.3 g | ||
| Protein | 2.8 g | 6% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.1 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 22 mg | 2% | |
| Iron | 1.0 mg | 6% | |
| Potassium | 113 mg | 2% | |
*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.
