Once a favorite, always a favorite.

Let me introduce you to my all time favorite bar: The Dream Bar.

It is exactly what it sounds like. So good, you can’t believe it’s real.

I know that seems a bit dramatic…but it’s true.

They are made from simple ingredients and there are not many components involved, which is how all great things are made in my opinion.

Start with a  shortbread-esque crust….

Butter. Flour. Sugar.

Use a fork to mostly combine…

Press into a 9×13 and bake for about 10 minutes

While that crust cools, crush some graham cracker.

Combine graham crumbs and chocolate chips into a bowl with a can of sweetened condensed milk.

Add some salt and baking powder.

Mix that all together and pour over the crust.

That will bake in the oven for about 15-20 minutes until browned.

While that is baking, make the buttercream frosting.

Butter, powdered sugar and a little vanilla.

Yum!

Once the bars are cooled, you can top with the frosting.

You are going to love these.

I used to sneak down into the kitchen whenever my mom made these and meticulously pull off the foil so that no one could hear me.

I usually would be shakey and sweaty trying so hard to be silent and quick.

I would start out by taking a tiny slice at a time.

But then, have you ever noticed with sheer terror that your “tiny slices” have amounted to a giant space of empty pan?

I usually would notice this right around the time the sugar high was hitting and would go into panic mode, hoping no one would notice.

A few years later, I realized my dad has a giant sweet tooth as well and probably did the exact same thing as me, without having to be so stealthy.

I wish I could still eat as much junk food as I did as a kid…

Oh wait.

Pretty sure I eat more junk food now then I did then.

Because when I was a kid I had an adult telling me I could only have one cookie, not the whole row.

The only thing that stops me now is my fear of the dentist knowing the truth about my obsession and my favorite pair of  jeans that stare me in the face every morning when I open my closet.

But without my love for sweets I would not have this blog that brings me so much joy 🙂

And some really hard and terrible days are only made better by a pint of ice cream or a bag of swedish fish.

So go ahead and make these. Act like a kid and eat way too many.  And don’t even feel bad about it for a second!

And as ALWAYS, this recipe is from the great and wonderful, Donna Russell.

AKA, best mom ever.

Recipe: Sweet Dream Bars

Crust:

1 Cup Flour

1/4 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup butter

Filling:

1 Cup Graham cracker crumbs

1/2 Cup chocolate chips

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

1 (14oz) Can Sweetened Condensed Milk

Frosting:

1 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar

1/2 cup Butter, softened

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Lighly soon flour into measuring cup, level off

In a small bowl, combine flour and sugar.

Cut in 1/2 cup of butter with a fork until crumbly.

Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9×13 pan.

Bake 10 minutes, and cool for 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine all filling ingredients and mix well.

Pour and spread over cooled and partially baked crust. Return to oven and bake 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

Cool completely.

In a small bowl, whip together the butter, sugar and vanilla until smooth.

Frost cooled bars and serve/eat immediately!