Frosted Graham Cracker Bars

Each summer I try and identify a couple of no-bake recipes that can be made without turning on the oven. I’m never quite sure what to think of no-bake recipes because you typically have to heat or melt ingredients on the stove and that can be worse than the oven. Thankfully I made these when the house wasn’t too warm, so I didn’t mind working with the stove. This recipe did come together very fast, so that was another bonus.

I did halve this recipe, making it in an 8” square pan. That slightly changes the quantity of graham crackers you need, but I found that 9 graham cracker squares fit the pan with little extra room or space between the crackers. The filling comes together fast, as the butter is quite warm and the mixture comes to a boil quickly when you add other ingredients. You technically should use ½ egg so I used the egg yolk. Using a full egg wouldn’t be the end of the world.

I topped the crackers with the filling and added more crackers. The dish is warm at this point so I put it in the refrigerator to cool about 30 minutes before I added the frosting. The frosting is simple but I needed more milk that expected to get it to a spreading consistency. I topped it and let it refrigerate for just over 24 hours. The time softens the crackers and I was worried they would be soggy, but that wasn’t the case at all! You get a sweet cookie with a crunchy filling that people
would never guess were a no-bake cookie.

Frosted Graham Cracker Bars
18 square graham crackers, divided
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs  

1/4 cup butter, room temperature
About 1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
⅛ teaspoon almond extract
About 2 tablespoons milk

Line an 8” pan with foil. Layer the bottom of the pan with graham crackers. You may need to break them apart to make an even layer.

Make the filling: in a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Once the butter is melted, add the sugar, milk, and beaten egg. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium high heat until the mixture boils. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the coconut, pecans, and graham cracker crumbs. Spread the mixture over the graham crackers in the pan. Top the bars with eight additional graham crackers, making another even layer.

Allow the bars to cool for an hour before topping with the frosting.

Make the frosting: in a large mixer bowl, beat the butter, milk, powdered sugar, vanilla, and almond extract on medium until combined. If required, you can add additional powdered sugar to thicken the frosting. Spread the frosting over the bars.

Refrigerate for at least 24 hours, which softens the graham crackers. Once fully refrigerated, cut into bars.

Recipe from Six Sisters’ Stuff