Thanksgiving Turkey Disaster Bars (Print)

Decadent dessert bars that blend sweet, salty, crunchy and chewy textures with the flavors of a Thanksgiving feast.

# Components:

→ Base

01 - 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, melted
02 - 2 cups (250 g) graham cracker crumbs
03 - 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar

→ Cookie Layer

04 - 1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour
05 - 1/2 tsp baking powder
06 - 1/4 tsp salt
07 - 1/2 cup (100 g) brown sugar
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 1 tsp vanilla extract

→ Mix-Ins

10 - 1 cup (120 g) pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
11 - 1 cup (175 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
12 - 1/2 cup (80 g) dried cranberries
13 - 1/2 cup (50 g) mini marshmallows
14 - 1/2 cup (70 g) sweet potato or pumpkin puree
15 - 1/2 cup (80 g) crumbled leftover turkey bacon (optional)
16 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

→ Topping

17 - 1/2 cup (120 ml) caramel sauce
18 - Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, mix melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, and granulated sugar until combined. Press firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the base.
03 - In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.
04 - Gently fold in pecans or walnuts, chocolate chips, dried cranberries, mini marshmallows, sweet potato or pumpkin puree, optional turkey bacon, and cinnamon.
05 - Spread the cookie mixture evenly over the graham cracker crust.
06 - Drizzle caramel sauce over the top and swirl gently with a knife.
07 - Bake for 30-35 minutes, until golden and set. Remove from oven and sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
08 - Cool completely in the pan before slicing into bars.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in just 1 hour from start to finish
  • Uses up Thanksgiving leftovers in a creative way
  • Perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors
  • Endlessly customizable based on what you have on hand
  • Crowd pleaser that serves 16 hungry guests
02 -
  • These bars are extremely forgiving and adaptable to whatever leftovers you have
  • Each bite offers a different flavor experience as you hit different mix ins
  • Can be made ahead and frozen for up to 3 months
  • Perfect for bake sales as they travel well and dont require refrigeration
  • The combination of sweet and savory elements makes these bars universally appealing
03 -
  • Slightly underbake these bars for a gooier, more decadent texture. The center should still wobble slightly when you remove them from the oven.
  • Toast your nuts before adding them to intensify their flavor. Simply spread them on a baking sheet and toast at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes until fragrant.
  • For a more pronounced caramel flavor, use brown butter instead of regular melted butter in the graham cracker base. The nutty notes complement the other ingredients beautifully.
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