Malted Milk Bars

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter (salted or unsalted, 1 1/2 sticks)
• 4 semi-sweet chocolate baking squares (4 ounces)
• 2 unsweetened chocolate squares (2 ounces)
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs (beaten)
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup instant malted milk powder (plain or chocolate)
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons butter (salted or unsalted, softened)
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 1/2 cups malted milk ball candies (coarsely chopped, about 5 ounces)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 325°f.
• 2 spray a 13" by 9" pyrex baking pan with cooking spray. for easier cutting, line pan with parchment paper or foil, extending it over short ends; grease parchment paper or foil.
• 3 prepare chocolate base:.
• 4 in heavy 3-quart saucepan, melt butter and semisweet and unsweetened chocolates over low heat, stirring frequently. remove saucepan from heat.
• 5 with wooden spoon, stir in granulated sugar and vanilla.
• 6 beat in eggs until well blended. in small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into chocolate mixture.
• 7 spread batter evenly in prepared pan. bake 25 to 30 minutes, until toothpick inserted 1 inch from edge of pan comes out clean. cool in pan on wire rack.
• 8 prepare malted milk topping:.
• 9 in small bowl, stir together malted milk powder, milk, and vanilla until blended.
• 10 stir in butter and confectioners' sugar until blended.
• 11 with small spatula, spread topping over cooled bars; top with chopped malted milk ball candies. allow topping to set.
• 12 when topping is firm, transfer with parchment paper or foil to cutting board. cut lengthwise into 4 strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 8 pieces.