Sweet Junk Bars

So, I made these because I needed something to bake, but I was honestly was too busy eating snacks. Then I remembered hearing about these bars that were called "Everything But the Kitchen Sink Bars" and I thought, "That is exactly what I need right now!" I don't just want to eat my popcorn, peanuts, marshmallows, and chocolate chips separately, I want to eat them all in one bite!

I am now happy to introduce to you the Sweet Junk Bar.

All the sweets, or really what ever you have, tossed into a cookie dough batter, baked like a brownie, and eaten like is was made in heaven (or hell, what ever you prefer).

Makes One: 13 inch by 9 inch baking dish

Takes About: 1 hour - including baking time

Difficulty: 1 out of 5 - super easy and perfect to make with your kids - or with your partner if they don't know how to bake.

Prep:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (170 degrees C).

Place a piece of parchment paper into the bottom of a 13 inch by 9 inch baking dish and butter well.

Ingredients:

3/4 cups unsalted butter - room temperature

1 1/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

- Filling

1 1/2 cups random snacks - peanuts, any nut, chocolate, marshmallows, candy (probably not gummys), popcorn (but a little weird), pretzels, ect

Instructions:

- Step 1 - Cream Butter and Sugar

In a large bowl, cream the 3/4 cup of butter until smooth - about 3-4 minutes.

Add the 1 1/4 cup brown sugar to the butter and mix until smooth - about 3-4 minutes.

- Step 2 - Adding in Eggs

Add 1 egg to the butter and sugar mixture and mix until blended.

Then add the second egg and the 1 1/2 teaspoons and mix until completely blended.

- Step 3 - Mixing Together Dry Ingredients

In a separate medium sized bowl, mix together the 1 3/4 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon and salt.

- Step 4 - Mix Wet and Dried Ingredients

Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just incorporated.

Add another 1/3 of the dried ingredients and mix until just incorporated.

Add the last third of the dry ingredients and mix it half way in.

Using a spatula, fold the remainder of the dried ingredients into the batter.

- Step 5 - Mix in your Assortment of Junk

Add your assortment of sweets - I would recommend you don't add more than 3 or 4 items.

And mix with a spatula until well woven in.

- Step 6 - Fill the Baking Dish and Bake Spoon the batter into the prepared baking dish - it will be very sticky - and flatten and bake for about 30 minutes.

- Step 7 - Cool, Cut, and Eat!