Carrot-Orange-Coconut Bars

Mr. Meyer, Upper School History Teacher, shared this recipe for Carrot-Orange-Coconut Bars.  

Ingredients: 

• Two teaspoons of baking powder
• One-half of a teaspoon of salt
• One-half of a teaspoon of ground nutmeg
• Three-fourths of a cup of softened butter 
• One cup of orange juice
• One teaspoon of vanilla extract
• One egg
• Two teaspoons of orange zest
• One-half of a cup flaked coconut
• One cup of mashed cooked carrots
• One-half of a cup of orange juice
• One teaspoon of orange zest
• One and one-half of a cup of confectioners’ sugar

Instructions: 

1) Preheat the oven to 350°F.  Grease an 11-by-7-inch pan.

2) In a medium bowl, cream the butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla until well blended.

3) Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg.

4) Slowly add the dry ingredients to the mixture, alternating with one-third cup of orange juice and two teaspoons of the rind.

5) Stir in the coconut and carrots.

6) Pour the batter into the baking pan.

7) Bake for about 35 minutes.  Let cool on wire racks.

8) Combine one-half of a cup of orange juice, one teaspoon of orange rind and one and one-half of a cup of confectioners’ sugar.

9) Warm this mixture slightly and pour over cooled bars. 

“This recipe comes from my mom, who found it in a cookbook.  For a few years, my mom would make this recipe at Christmastime.  My father always wanted her to just make something simple, like brownies, but my mom had to make something complex.”  Mr. Meyer said.  “I have never had anything else like these bars, so they are something I always associate with Christmas and my mom.”

Featured Image Courtesy of Mr. Matthew Meyer