Ooey Gooey Peanut Bars

If you're on the hunt for a sinful addition to your Labor Day spread (or just to indulge in today!), check out these bars!

The bottom crust is flour, sugar, and butter, then you top it with lots more brown sugar, peanuts, coconut, and I threw in a handful of chocolate chips for good measure. Just a handful of basic ingredients transform into this gooey crumbly bar of goodness. They're rich so be sure and share with a crowd!

This recipe is not from a big blogger, magazine, or famous chef. It's a family recipe - a grandmother, to be exact. Handwritten on a little piece of paper and found by her granddaughter, who blogs at Southern Sweets and Eats. Aren't those the best?

This recipe had no name attributed to it - Amy came up with Gooey Crunchy Goodness Bars and challenged others to name it as well. Whip up a batch and see what you'd call them! 

Ooey Gooey Peanut Bars

1/2 cup melted butter

1 cup + 2 tbsp dark brown sugar, separated

1 1/4 cup flour

2 eggs

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup sweetened shredded coconut

1 cup salted roasted peanuts, roughly chopped

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, optional

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix together the butter, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and flour until the mixture comes together to form little pebbles of dough. Press the dough into an even layer on the bottom of an 8" square baking dish.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together 2 cups brown sugar, eggs, salt, and vanilla. Mix well. Stir in the coconut, chopped peanuts, and chocolate chips (if using). Spread the mixture evenly over the crust.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Cool in the pan on a wire rack before slicing into bars. (Be sure and cool completely or you'll have a ooey gooey mess!)

Source: Southern Sweets and Eats