Grandma's Three Layer Chocolate Squares - Triple Layer Cookie Bars
Grandma's Three Layer Chocolate Squares are a family favorite treat that are served every Christmas at my house. The triple layer cookie bar consists of a chocolate graham cracker crust, a vanilla cream center and a sweet Hershey's chocolate topping. The combination is a match made in chocolate heaven.
Servings: 24 squares
Calories: 233kcal
Ingredients
Bottom Layer
- 1/2 cup butter or margarine
- 1/4 cup cocoa
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 egg, slightly beaten
- 2 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 1/2 to 3 cups graham crackers, crushed
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
Middle Layer
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 3 Tablespoons half and half or milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Top Layer
- 9 3/4 ounces Hershey's Chocolate Bars
Instructions
- Melt 1/2 cup butter; add one ingredient at a time, stirring after each addition: cocoa, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, egg, 2 teaspoons vanilla, graham cracker crumbs and chopped nuts. (Start with 2 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs and add more if needed. You don't want it to be too dry.) Press into the bottom of a 13x9x2 inch pan.
- Melt 1/4 cup butter. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and 2 teaspoons sugar; add to the melted butter and whisk until smooth. Add half and half or milk. Cook mixture over low heat, stirring constantly until thick and smooth; cool slightly.
- Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and 2 cups powdered sugar to cooled mixture; whisk until smooth and thick. Pour over the bottom layer and spread evenly with an offset spatula.
- Melt chocolate over hot water (double boiler). Spread over the cream layer. Let cool at room temperature until chocolate hardens.
- Cut into bars before the chocolate is completely set. Cut into dainty squares.
Notes
- What is confectioners sugar? Don't be confused! Confectioners sugar is powdered sugar. You would not want to substitute plain white sugar for confectioners sugar. Powdered sugar is much finer and sweeter than plain white sugar.
- Sift the powdered sugar after measuring for the first layer of these 3-layer cookie bars.
- How many cups are in a package of graham crackers? The answer is approximately 1 1/2 cups per plastic package that is found inside the graham cracker box. This recipe calls for 2 1/2 to 3 cups of graham cracker crumbs, so use 2 of the small plastic packages (a box of graham crackers usually contains 3 plastic packages inside).
- To easily make graham cracker crumbs, use a food processor like this one or use a rolling pin. I recommend the latter; its a great stress relief.
- Grandma's original recipe calls for 9 3/4 ounces of "sweet chocolate bar" or she says you can substitute chocolate chips. It just so happens that 9 3/4 ounces = 6 Hershey's bars.
- To melt the Hershey's bars, put in a double boiler. What is a double boiler? It's a special pan that is two saucepans on top of each other. What do you substitute for a double boiler? Find a glass bowl that fits on top of a saucepan. Fill the saucepan with a couple of inches of water but do not have the water touch the bottom of the bowl. Bring the water to a gentle boil underneath the bowl of chocolate. The heat will melt the chocolate perfectly.
- The easiest way to spread the cream layer (2nd), and Hershey's layer (3rd) is with an offset spatula.
- These three-layer chocolate bars freeze great. Make them up to a month ahead of time, wrap tightly and pull them out when you are ready to serve. My mom waits to cut them right before serving.
- Looking for other holiday baking options? Try Chocolate Crinkles Cookies, Poppy seed Bread, Dainty Log Butter Cookies, Fantasy Fudge, Crock Pot Seven Layer Bars, Glazed Pecans, Homemade Caramel Corn, and Chocolate Nut Cookies.
- The nutritional information below is auto-calculated and can vary depending on the products used.
Nutrition
Calories: 233kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 114mg | Potassium: 129mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 199IU | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 2mg