Post-holiday sadness has sunk in and you’re back to your normal routine. Keep the holiday spirit going with a delicious treat that won’t compromise your healthy resolutions!
The overindulgence and madness of the holidays has passed and reality has returned. A panoply of resolutions have been revealed, some already abandoned, and post-celebratory melancholy has begun to creep in. As we pack away our ornaments and menorahs, take down our trees and twinkle lights and resolve to drink a little more water and a little less champagne in the New Year, a sense of loss fills the space where unbridled joy and excitement previously resided. But why must we part so quickly with all those sweet treats and merry tunes?
Almost all of my most cherished memories from the holidays over the years revolve around food – autumn-inspired pancakes, chocolate crinkle cookies, crème de menthe brownies, and even smoked salmon dip. To prolong the holidays a bit longer, I’m putting my oven back to work to make the everything-bar I enjoyed this season: the Hello Dolly! For those of you already wincing at the thought of including sugar in your newfound diet plan, do not forget that eliminating foods will likely contribute to falling off the wagon. So proceed like Parisians and consume a little bit of everything (but hold the smoking).
You’ll need
½ cup butter
1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs (plain, honey or cinnamon will do. For those in France, use Speculoos!)
1.5-2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (dark)
1 cup butterscotch chips (optional)
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1 cup pecans (or walnuts if you prefer but pecans add a lovely spiced flavor)
1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
How to
Pre-heat the oven to 350°F. Line and butter a 9x9 pan
Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Pour the melted butter into the 9x9 baking pan. Sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs into pan, and mix well with melted butter to form a crust.
Layer the chocolate chips, butterscotch (optional), coconut and pecans on top of the graham cracker crust, in that order. Pour the condensed milk on top of the mixture.
Bake for 25-30 minutes (if baking in a glass pan, it may take longer so check frequently).
Resist the urge to cut them until they’ve completely cooled (overnight if possible), they’re far better that way!
Here’s to a sweet New Year!
Lindsey Tramuta is a home & culture columnist for BitchBuzz and the creator of Lost In Cheeseland where she writes about life in Paris. Follow her on twitter @LostNCheeseland.
Photo courtesy of AlanaGKelly