No eggs. No flour. No butter. No sugar (on its own). How can this be? This Chewy Bars recipe has none of these ingredients and is one of the easiest recipes for bars I’ve ever made. So what’s the secret?
Chewy Bars
The secret is sweetened condensed milk. That sweet, sticky, creamy and smooth ingredient is what binds this entire recipe together and also saves you on time.
I love sweetened condensed milk and would eat it right from the can if I could. I use it often in dessert recipes and always keep my pantry stocked up with several cans. Buy it when it’s on sale!
Mix graham cracker crumbs and your other ingredients with the sweetened condensed milk and this luscious dessert will be the result. Think easy holiday baking, you guys!
How to Make Chewy Bars
Start by greasing a 9-inch baking pan with cooking spray or butter.
In a large bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, sweetened condensed milk, sunflower seeds, 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips and 1/2 cup butterscotch chocolate chips. Spread the mixture into the baking pan.
Top with 1/4 cup of milk chocolate chips and 1/4 cup of butterscotch chocolate chips.
Bake for 25 minutes at 325F. Let them cool before cutting into bars.
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It’s chewy and sweet and wonderful to share with your family and friends. You can even freeze them for later if you like.
I like to make a few batches and then deliver them to my friends and family. It’s a thoughtful gesture that people always appreciate!
Don’t like sunflower seeds or the chips I chose? Replace them with another ingredient and don’t stress. I used salted sunflower seeds because that is what I had. Unsalted would be fine to use as well.
These bars did not last long in my home. My cousin came over and took a bunch home to her family. She has two teenage boys with ravenous appetites. I swear those kids will eat anything.
Meanwhile, I have two extremely picky kids! I was glad to see everyone enjoyed this recipe.
Bar Recipes
Looking for more bar recipes to bake this holiday season? Check out these recipes:
- Mud Hen Bars: A vintage dessert from Grandma’s cookbook! It has a cookie bar base, topped with a rich layer of walnuts, chocolate and melted marshmallows followed by a sweet brown sugar meringue topping.
- Sour Cream Raisin Bars: This easy dessert recipe is a cross between a date square and a butter tart. It has a creamy raisin filling that everyone loves!
- Fudge Nut Bars: Rich and sweet with multiple dimensions of flavour. Creamy fudge is layered between an oat base and topping.
- Penuche Squares: You’ll love the home cooked taste that will remind you of your grandmother cooking in the kitchen!
- Pecan Cake Bars: Pecan Cake Bars are chewy, moist and incredibly delicious. The addition of pecans adds a lovely crunch to each bite. Try this recipe for holiday baking!
What are you baking these days?
Chewy Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk 300ml can
- ¾ cup sunflower seeds
- ½ cup milk chocolate chips + ¼ cup for topping
- ½ cup butterscotch chips + ¼ cup for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, mix together graham cracker crumbs, sweetened condensed milk, sunflower seeds, ½ cup milk chocolate chips and ½ cup butterscotch chips. Spread into prepared pan.
- Top with ¼ cup each of milk chocolate chips and butterscotch chips.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Let cool before cutting into bars.
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Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Rose Bauer says
Thanks Stacie,
I tried all of those.
Peggy Bolles says
This should not be advertised as “no flour”. Graham crackers are made with at least one and sometimes two kinds of flour.
CookPrincess says
I believe she meant that you don’t have to have It as a separate ingredient.
Cindy Peroceschi says
Love this site !!
Diane says
Instead of spraying the dish, can you use parchment paper to lift them out so it would make cutting easier?
Stacie says
Yes, you can.
Jamie Andersen says
Do you use salted or unsalted sunflower seeds?
Stacie says
I think I used salted since that is what I typically buy.
Natasha says
Do you sprinkle chips on before and after baking?
Natasha says
The recipe says to sprinkle chips before baking, the pic looks like it was done after.
Do you do both?
Stacie says
No, they were done before, but were softened. I didn’t spread them with a knife to mix them together because I wanted them intact for the photos.
Laura says
What could be used in place of sunflower seeds? Anything with a crunch? Such as rice krispies maybe? Or crushed nuts? Some suggestions would be appreciated. 🙂
Stacie says
Anything small and crunchy! Peanuts, chopped pecans, broken up pretzel pieces. Rice Krispies would work too.