Kitchen Cabinet Cookie Bars Using Mashed Potatoes

If you have a potato (or potato flakes), nut butter, and sticky syrup then you can make a yummy gooey cookie bar! No flour or eggs necessary. And if you're not completely low on supplies and have some extra stuff lurking in your cabinets then you can make a masterpiece!! It's also gluten-free and can easily be made vegan.

Supplies

• 1/2 cup mashed potatoes*
• 1/2 cup any nut butter**
• 1/3 cup sticky sweet syrup***
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips (optional)****

*Can be fresh, leftovers, or even from potato flakes. Just make sure there isn't any seasoning in them like garlic or pepper.

**Peanut butter, almond butter, sunflower butter, etc. You could even try cookie butter!

***Maple syrup, agave, honey—corn syrup or pancake syrup would even work.

****Peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, white chocolate chips, etc. You can even chop up a candy bar if it's all you have.

Step 1: Bake Your Cookie Bar

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Combine all your ingredients (minus the chocolate chips) in a bowl and stir with a spoon or spatula until smooth.
3. Fold in your chocolate chips.
4. Press into an 8x8in baking dish that is lined with parchment paper or greased.
5. Bake for 25 minutes.
6. Let cool completely in pan.

Step 2: Make Your Frosting

The frosting is optional but it helps hold on lots of toppings!

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine (room temperature)
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder*
• 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 3-4 tablespoons liquid**
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

*Milk, non-dairy milk, creamer, or water.

**Replace with more powdered sugar if you want a white frosting.

Directions

1. Cream the butter until smooth.
2. Add in all of the powdered sugar, vanilla, and 2 tablespoon of liquid. Stir until slightly combined so powdered sugar doesn't fly everywhere. Beat on high until smooth.
3. Add in the cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon liquid. Stir until slightly combined. Beat until smooth. Add more liquid if the frosting is too thick. You want it to be easily spreadable.
4. Spread onto cooled cookie bar.

Step 3: Add Your Toppings

Crunchy toppings will become soggy if not eaten immediately. To keep that crunch, don't add your toppings until ready to eat. Slice and store the frosted bars in an airtight container at room temperature until ready. You can even top each bar differently to please the whole family! For the purpose of this tutorial I put all of my toppings on the whole cookie at once.

When ready to serve:

1. Add whatever toppings you have in your cabinet.
2. Smoosh them down into the frosting so they stick.
3. Optional, drizzle with melted chocolate.

I bet you have lots of topping options in your cabinet that you're not even aware of! Some suggestions:

• Potato chips
• Pretzels
• Graham crackers
• Raisins
• Coconut flakes
• Cookies
• Peanuts
• Animal crackers
• Gummies
• Chocolate syrup
• Caramel syrup
• Chopped up candy bars
• Cereal
• Marshmallows
• Sprinkles
• Ice cream