Chocolate Midnight Mint Bars

By shelliec

Ingredients

• Topping:
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/3 cup baking cocoa
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg -- beaten
• 1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 3/4 cup flaked coconut
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/3 cup butter -- softened
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• green food coloring -- optional
• Frosting:
• 2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons butter

Details

Servings 36

Preparation

Step 1

In a heavy saucepan, heat the butter, cocoa and sugar over low heat until sugar is dissolved, stirring often. Remove from the heat. Stir in a small amount of hot mixture into egg. Return all to pan. Cook and stir until
mixture coats a metal spoon and reaches 160 degrees. Remove from the heat. Stir in the cracker crumbs, coconut and walnuts. Press into a buttered 9" square pan. Set aside.

For filling: In a small mixing bowl, beat butter, confectioners' sugar, milk and extract until smooth. Tint with green food coloring if desired. Spread evenly over bottom layer. Set aside.

For topping: In a heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips and butter over low heat until blended and smooth, stirring often. Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes. Spread over filling. Cover and refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. Cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.