Pear Bar Cookies for a Crowd

One of the boys in my house is trying to reduce is table sugar intake, so we came up with this recipe using honey powder.  The original recipe called for white and brown sugar.  Either way, this is a very delicious treat!

Pear Bar Cookies for a Crowd

Pre-heat the oven to 350F.  In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, combine well

3 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups honey powder (or sugar)
1 1/4 cups cold butter

Spray an 11"x17"x3" (or similar) baking pan with cooking oil spray.  Press the dough into the bottom and about 1" up the sides of the pan to form a crust.  Bake the crust at 350F for about 20 to 25 minutes or until it is becoming golden brown.

In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, prepare the filling.  Combine

5 eggs
1 1/4 cups honey powder (or brown sugar, packed)
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Carefully peel and slice

5 medium-sized pears

Add them to the filling mixture and pour this over the baked crust.

For the topping, combine

1/3 cup oats
1/3 cup honey powder (or sugar)

Sprinkle it evenly over the top of the filling.  Bake the cookies for about 20 minutes or until they are golden brown.  When cool enough to handle, cut the finished product into bars.  Store tightly covered in the  refrigerator or place onto baking sheets and freeze individually.  Store in the freezer in zipper-sealed bags for up to one month.

Enjoy!

c2012 Sharron Long, Adams Media, Inc., All rights reserved.