Description
These No-bowl Chocolate Nut Bars are an easy, no-mess dessert featuring a buttery biscuit base topped with desiccated coconut, peanuts, dark chocolate chips, and sweetened condensed milk. Baked to golden perfection, they offer a deliciously rich, nutty, and chewy treat perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Base Ingredients
- 100g (7 tbsp) unsalted butter, cut into a few chunks
- 1 cup (100g) plain biscuits, crushed (e.g. Marie, Arrowroot, Digestives, Graham crackers)
Topping Ingredients
- 1 cup desiccated coconut (unsweetened)
- 1 cup unsalted peanuts, or other nuts of choice
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips (US: semi-sweet chips)
- 395g (14 oz) (1 can) sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) or 160°C (fan-forced) to prepare for baking the bars.
- Prepare the Pan: Lightly spray a 20cm (8″) square pan with oil and press in a sheet of baking paper. Don’t worry about perfect placement as it just helps with removal later.
- Melt Butter: Place the chunks of butter directly into the lined pan and place the pan in the oven for 5 minutes to melt the butter thoroughly.
- Create Biscuit Base: Remove the pan and gently swirl to spread melted butter evenly. Sprinkle the crushed biscuits over the butter, spread them out, and gently press down to form an even base layer.
- Layer Toppings: Scatter the desiccated coconut evenly over the biscuit base. Then add about two-thirds of the peanuts and chocolate chips, reserving some for topping.
- Add Condensed Milk: Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the layers and spread to cover the surface uniformly.
- Top the Bars: Sprinkle the remaining peanuts and chocolate chips over the condensed milk layer for a decorative and flavorful top.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until the edges of the bars turn golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting. Cool on the counter for 3 hours, or 1 hour on the counter followed by 1 hour in the fridge. Use the baking paper to lift the bars from the pan, cut into 16 pieces, and enjoy.
Notes
- You can substitute the plain biscuits with any crunchier plain cookies like digestive biscuits or Graham crackers for texture variation.
- Feel free to swap peanuts for other nuts such as almonds, cashews, or walnuts based on preference or dietary needs.
- The sweetened condensed milk is key for binding and adding sweetness; do not substitute with evaporated milk or other types.
- Pressing layers doesn’t require perfection; rustic layering adds a homey appeal.
- If you prefer a firmer texture, chilling the bars overnight is ideal before cutting.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
