Best 6 California Dream Bars Recipes

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Indulge in the tantalizing symphony of flavors and textures that is the California Dream Bars. This delectable treat, hailing from the sun-kissed shores of California, seamlessly blends a rich and creamy filling, a graham cracker crust, and a layer of chocolate ganache, resulting in a dessert that is both visually stunning and a delight to the palate.

This article presents a collection of meticulously crafted recipes that guide you through the process of creating these heavenly bars. From the classic rendition to variations that incorporate white chocolate, peanut butter, and even a gluten-free option, these recipes cater to every taste and dietary preference. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, this comprehensive guide provides clear instructions and helpful tips to ensure your California Dream Bars turn out perfectly each time.

Immerse yourself in the world of California Dream Bars and discover the joy of creating this iconic dessert in your own kitchen. With each bite, you'll be transported to a state of pure bliss, where dreams are made of sugar, butter, and chocolate. So, grab your apron, gather your ingredients, and embark on a culinary journey that will leave you craving more.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

DREAM BARS



Dream Bars image

Dream Bars come from Hillary Lawson of Plummer, Idaho. "These bar cookies are a family favorite and excellent travelers," explains Hillary. "Wonderfully moist and chewy, they're define winners with the men and kids."

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 50m

Yield about 2-1/2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 12

CRUST:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, cubed
FILLING
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts

Steps:

  • In a small bowl, combine flour and brown sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Pat into a 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. , Meanwhile, in a bowl, beat eggs and brown sugar; stir in vanilla. Combine flour and salt; add to egg mixture. Fold in coconut and walnuts. Spread over baked crust. Return to oven and bake 20-25 minutes longer or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 123 calories, Fat 6g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 21mg cholesterol, Sodium 81mg sodium, Carbohydrate 15g carbohydrate (11g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 2g protein.

DREAM BARS



Dream Bars image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     dessert

Time 1h25m

Yield 24 bars

Number Of Ingredients 11

Nonstick vegetable spray
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup coarsely chopped toasted pecans
6 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut flakes
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

Steps:

  • Line a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with foil so that it covers the bottom and overhangs 2 sides by at least 1-inch. Tuck the overlap around the outside of the pan. Coat with nonstick vegetable spray.
  • Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
  • In a bowl, combine 1 cup of the flour, 1/2 cup of the brown sugar, and the pecans. Work in the butter, rubbing and pinching it between your fingertips, until the mixture looks mealy and lumpy. Lightly pat the streusel onto the bottom of the pan.
  • In a mixing bowl, beat together the eggs and the remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar until doubled in volume. Beat in the vanilla extract.
  • In another bowl, sift together the remaining 1/2 cup flour, baking powder, and salt, then beat into the egg mixture. Spread on top of the streusel.
  • Sprinkle on the coconut and the sweetened condensed milk. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the first tiny bubbles come up. Set on a rack to cool. Run a knife around the 2 unfoiled pan sides to loosen, then lift the whole cake out of the pan. Cut into 2-inch bars.

CHOCOLATE CHIP DREAM BARS



Chocolate Chip Dream Bars image

Dreaming of a rich chocolate bar? Here it is--ready to be the best on a cookie tray.

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h35m

Yield 32

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 bag (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips (1 cup)
1 cup milk chocolate chips
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, mix 1/2 cup brown sugar and the butter. Stir in 1 cup flour. Press in ungreased rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches. Bake 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, in medium bowl, mix eggs, 1 cup brown sugar and the vanilla. Stir in 2 tablespoons flour, the baking powder and salt. Stir in semisweet and milk chocolate chips. Spread over crust.
  • Bake bars 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.
  • In 1-quart saucepan, heat all Chocolate Glaze ingredients over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted. Drizzle glaze over cooled bars. Refrigerate at least 1 hour until firm. For bars, cut into 8 rows by 4 rows. Store at room temperature.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 160, Carbohydrate 22 g, Cholesterol 20 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 1 g, Protein 2 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, ServingSize 1 Bar, Sodium 80 mg

CHOCOLATE CHIP DREAM BARS



Chocolate Chip Dream Bars image

A perfect dessert to serve company. Kids love them. Quick and easy to make.

Provided by SWEATSUGAR

Categories     Desserts     Cookies     Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes     Double Chocolate

Time 1h

Yield 32

Number Of Ingredients 14

⅓ cup butter, softened
½ cup packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 ½ tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
4 teaspoons butter
2 tablespoons boiling water
1 cup confectioners' sugar

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • In a medium bowl, cream together 1/3 cup butter and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Stir in 1 cup of flour until well blended. Press the dough into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking pan.
  • Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven; remove and set aside. In a medium bowl, mix eggs and vanilla. Combine 1 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, baking powder and salt so there are no lumps. Stir the sugar mixture into the eggs. Stir in the chocolate chips. Spread over the pre-baked crust.
  • Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Cool and drizzle with chocolate glaze.
  • To make the glaze: In a small saucepan over medium heat, mix together the cocoa, 4 teaspoons butter, and boiling water. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until thick and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the confectioners' sugar. Drizzle over cooled bars before cutting into squares.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 121.8 calories, Carbohydrate 20.7 g, Cholesterol 18 mg, Fat 4.4 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 1.2 g, SaturatedFat 2.6 g, Sodium 72.8 mg, Sugar 16.6 g

DREAM BARS



Dream Bars image

Provided by Carla Rollins

Categories     Mixer     Chocolate     Dessert     Bake     Kid-Friendly     Back to School     Gourmet     Small Plates

Yield Makes 48 (2- by 1-inch) bars

Number Of Ingredients 11

Brownie batter , left in bowl
For chocolate chip cookie dough
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips (8 ounces)

Steps:

  • Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13- by 9- by 2-inch baking pan and line bottom and sides with wax paper, then butter paper.
  • Spread brownie batter evenly in pan.
  • Make chocolate chip dough:
  • Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.
  • Beat together butter and sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Lightly beat 1 egg with a fork in a small bowl and add 1 3/4 tablespoons of it plus remaining whole egg to butter mixture, beating with mixer until creamy. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low and mix in flour mixture until just blended, then stir in chips.
  • Top brownie batter evenly with spoonfuls of cookie dough, spreading gently with back of spoon to form an even layer.
  • Bake until a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs adhering, about 1 1/4 hours. Cool completely in pan on a rack, about 2 hours. Invert onto a cutting board, remove paper, and cut into bars.

DREAM BARS II



Dream Bars II image

This is an old time South Dakota recipe. Cocoa is an optional ingredient. This recipe is made in two parts.

Provided by SONNINGALE

Categories     Desserts     Cookies     International Cookie Recipes     American Cookie Recipes

Time 55m

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 12

½ cup butter
½ cup brown sugar
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
3 eggs, beaten
1 ½ cups brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and 1/2 cup brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the 1 1/2 cups of flour. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan. Bake the crust for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden.
  • In a medium bowl, mix together the eggs and 1 1/2 cups brown sugar. Stir in the vanilla. Combine the 1/4 cup flour, cocoa (if desired), baking powder and salt; stir into the egg mixture. Fold in the coconut and walnuts. Pour into the pre-baked crust.
  • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until firm. Cool and cut into squares.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 192 calories, Carbohydrate 25.4 g, Cholesterol 33.4 mg, Fat 9.5 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 2.9 g, SaturatedFat 4.5 g, Sodium 86.7 mg, Sugar 16.8 g

Tips:

  • Use high-quality chocolate: The chocolate is the star of this bar, so it's important to use a good-quality chocolate that you enjoy the taste of. A semisweet or bittersweet chocolate will work well.
  • Don't overbeat the eggs: Overbeating the eggs will make the bars tough. Just beat them until they are combined.
  • Chill the dough: Chilling the dough will make it easier to handle and will help the bars to set properly.
  • Bake the bars until they are just set: Overbaking the bars will make them dry and crumbly. Bake them just until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached.
  • Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting them: This will help to prevent them from falling apart.

Conclusion:

California Dream Bars are a delicious and easy-to-make treat that are perfect for any occasion. They are a great way to use up leftover chocolate, and they are always a hit with friends and family. So next time you're looking for a sweet treat, give California Dream Bars a try. You won't be disappointed!

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