In My Pantry: Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cookie Mix AND Luscious Layer Bars Recipe

I've had a box of Betty Crocker's Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix in my pantry for awhile now. I finally got around to trying it a few weeks ago, but I just couldn't make plain old chocolate chip cookies. Instead, I made Luscious Layer Bars. Chocolate, caramel, and coconut cookie bars...mmmmm...sinfully delicious!

Before I get into the recipe, here's what I thought about the Cookie Mix. As gluten free options are often limited, I appreciate that a trusted brand has a line of gluten free baking mixes. However, like all gluten free versions, Betty Crocker's GF mixes are expensive. I also didn't like how sugary the dough and baked cookie was (this is a big statement for a sweet tooth to make). As soon as I poured the mix into the bowl, I could see a lot of granular sugar. I also found it impossible to mix the dough using a hand mixer. The dough wasn't forming together. Instead, I put the mixer aside and mixed the dough with my hands. While this isn't preferable, it actually matches my pre-gluten free experience with Betty Crocker's regular cookie mixes.

Despite the negatives, the final outcome tasted like a real chocolate chip cookie. However, I probably won't buy this mix again since I've learned to make delicious gluten free desserts from scratch that taste As Good As Gluten.

Now, onto the Gluten Free Luscious Layer Bars. These sinful cookie bars are delicious. The taste like a Samoa Cookie married a Chocolate Chip Cookie bar. Heavenly!

Luscious Layer Bars
Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker

Cookie Layer Ingredients:
·1 box of Betty Crocker Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
·1 egg
·½ cup butter, softened
·1 tsp vanilla
Note: Instead of the ingredients above, you can substitute a homemade recipe for gluten free chocolate chip cookie dough.

Layer Ingredients
·1 6-8oz. can sweetened condensed milk
·1 cup caramel bits/chips
·1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
·1 cup flaked coconut
·1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350˚. Spray bottom of a 13x9 pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl, mix together cookie layer ingredients until cookie dough is formed. Press cookie dough in bottom of pan. Bake 15 minutes.

Drizzle condensed milk evenly over baked cookie crust. Sprinkle with caramel bits, chocolate chips, coconut, and nuts. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until light golden brown. Cool completely and cut into bars.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. It's a product I bought and wanted to share with you.