Kahlua Dream Bars

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup chopped toasted pecans
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons instant coffee powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup kahlua (any coffee liquer will work)
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• 2 tablespoons additional kahlua (optional)
• powdered sugar

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350 degrees farenheit. grease a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.
• 2 to prepare cookie base: in a large mixing bowl, beat butter, brown sugar and salt until light and fluffy. add flour 1/2 c at a time, blending well after each addition. stir in pecans. spread evenly over bottom of prepared pan. bake for 12 minutes and then remove to a cooling rack.
• 3 to prepare topping: in a small mixing bowl, beat eggs, coffee powder and salt until light. beating constantly at medium-high speed, add sugars 1/4 c at a time, beating well after each addition. increase speed to high; continue beating until mixture is thick and pale and ribbons form in bowl when beaters are lifted, 5 to 10 minutes. with mixer running at medium speed, gradually add 1/2 c kahlua, then flour and baking powder; beat only until combined. fold in coconut. pour evenly over partially baked crust.
• 4 bake 20 minutes. remove from oven. if desired, drizzle remaining 2 tbl kahlua. return to oven; bake an additional 5 minutes or until top is set and evenly browned. coo in pan on rack. dust cooled cookies with powdered sugar. cut into 48 (about 1 1/2") squares, cutting 6 strips one way and 8 strips the other way. store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week or freeze for longer storage.