Friday, December 17, 2010

Avalanche Bars - Final Week


Well, all good things must come to an end. After nearly three months, we are on the final week of our 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies group. It has been a wonderful time for me. I found so many new and delicious recipes, tried and loved them, and got to know an amazing group of talented, kind, and awesome bloggers. A big thanks to April for starting the ball rolling and allowing us all to have this memorable opportunity.

They say that chocolate releases endorphins and you become happier as a result. So, I can think of no better way to raise my spirits than to share a delicious chocolate treat with you all. They're called Avalanche Bars.


I found them on Cookies and Cups' website. They are originally made with white chocolate and peanut butter. But, being a dark chocolate kind of girl, I changed the recipe to suit my own tastes. I used a combination of dark chocolate and butter and added chopped up pretzels and marshmallows to the mixture. To top them off, I used some chocolate covered toffee bits.

I also made them in a silicone muffin tin instead of a pan. It worked out so well. Not only did they pop out perfectly without a fight, but they also had a cute little shape to them, just perfect for a handheld treat.


The result was fantastic. It's like eating a delicious candy bar. You get a


CRUNCH from the Rice Krispies

CHEWY from the marshmallows


SALTY/SWEET from the pretzels and chocolate.









So, although this baking event is coming to a close, you don't have to feel sad. Make these Avalanche Bars and get happy!

Avalanche Bars (adapted from Cookies and Cups)

12 oz. bag semisweet chocolate chips (or milk chocolate if you prefer)
1/4 c. butter (or peanut butter)
3 c. Rice Krispies
1/2-3/4 c. chopped pretzels
1 1/2 c. mini marshmallows
chocolate covered toffee bits (for sprinkling on top)

Lightly grease a 9x9 pan. In a microwave-safe bowl, dump in chocolate chips and heat on medium power for 1 minute. Stir and continue in 30 second increments until chips are melted.

Combine the butter with the melted chips. Add the Rice Krispies. Let cool a little and add the marshmallows. Press into the pan and spread evenly, pressing lightly with the back of a spoon, but do not compact too much, otherwise they will get hard. Top with toffee bits.

Notes:
  • You can also use peanut butter in place of the butter and substitute any candies or mix-ins you wish.
  • I noticed that the chocolate tended to seize when I added in the butter (there was no water anywhere so I'm not sure why this happened). To fix this, I stirred in a little oil and it softened up again.
I have a whole lot of other variations of this recipe that I intend to try one day.
  1. Dark chocolate + peanut butter + marshmallows and peanut butter chips + PB drizzle
  2. Dark chocolate + butter + mint chips (or Andes chocolates)
  3. Dark chocolate + butter + milk chocolate chips + toffee pieces or caramel bits
  4. Dark chocolate + peanut butter + pretzels + honey roasted peanuts + PB drizzle
  5. Peanut butter chips + butter + marshmallows + chocolate or butterscotch chips


Week 12 Twelve Weeks of Christmas:

31 comments:

  1. Hello Lisa, your avalanche bars look so yummy and I would like to make this for my family.
    Please come to my blog and join a little Christmas giveaway.
    Happy weekend :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lisa, these look delicious ... I can't wait to try them. I like the idea of using dark chocolate instead of white. I would've done the same thing! And there are so many possibilities ... wow!

    ReplyDelete
  3. hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
    essas barrinhas parecem tão deliciosas!!!
    Adorei te conhecer Lisa! Foi muito legal participar do grupo!
    Com certeza vou sentir falta de cozinhar junto de todas vocês!!!
    Eu sei que é um pouco cedo ainda, mas desejo a você e sua família uma Feliz Natal!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ooooh, I'm a dark chocolate girl,too! These are perfect! Crunchy, gooey and chocolatey!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am 100% sure that I need these in my life. Can't ever ever go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for the shout out and great adaptation :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love sweet n' salty combos in desserts! This reminds me of a recipe I have for chocolate-pretzel-peanut butter cookies :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I make something similar -love this variation!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your avalanche bars sounds great with all the yummy combination! Good job!

    ReplyDelete
  10. These sound amazing - you can never go wrong with a salty and sweet combo! Its been great baking along with you!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh. MY. HECK!!!! These look so yummy! LOVE the addition of the Heath bits. (Can't go wrong with those EVER!) ANd pretzels too? Holy smokes! I'm so making these!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am sad to see the great cookie spree ending...I've really enjoyed seeing what everyone has come up with.

    Wonderful treat...I'm going to have to try these out....quick, easy, and delicious. ;) I applaud the dark chocolate substitution....yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  13. These look so good! I agree, chocolate always makes me happier. :-) Yum!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. These look awesome, Lisa! It's been so much baking along with you this year! Happy Holidays!

    ReplyDelete
  15. LOVE how you made these bars your own. They are full of flavor and texture! Love it! MERRY CHRISTMAS, Lisa!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh my!! These sound like they were made for me!! I love Rice Krispies!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great combo of flavors! These look delicious Lisa.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh man oh man, Lisa, these are terrific! Love the combination of crunchy, chewy, salty, and sweet - all 4 food groups! :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Whoa! These sound amazing! I love how you can change them up. So glad you were on the 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookie wagon.
    mickey

    ReplyDelete
  20. You really kicked these up these up.
    ~ingrid

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ooh, love that you used dark chocolate instead of white (I much prefer dark, too!) And they are cute in their little cup shape.
    Fun 12 weeks, Lisa!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love sweet & salty. These sound wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Two of my favorite things, pretzels and dark chocolate. These sound great:)

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love the combination of textures and flavours.....bring on the avalanche and have a great festive season

    ReplyDelete
  25. These sound amazing!! What a great last recipe for this fun cookie-loving round-up! You had some fabulous recipes--and I am so glad we found eachother's blogs through this!

    ReplyDelete
  26. D'lish Lisa! All the ingredients together are scumptious! I love the combos you have come up with to try in the future.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Love your changes. I know these would make me smile.

    ReplyDelete
  28. This sounds absolutely yummy. I can see my kids having these in their lunches.

    ReplyDelete