Two Peas and Their Pod

Mud Hen Bars

by Two Peas on August 8, 2011

I was looking for a bar treat to make for a party and stumbled across a recipe for Mud Hen Bars. The bars have a cookie crust and are topped with marshmallows and chocolate chips. Wait, there is more! The bars also have a brown sugar meringue topping. I wasn’t sure where the “Mud Hen” name came from, but I didn’t care. I was going to make the bars anyways.

First, you make a basic cookie dough crust and top it with mini marshmallows and chocolate chips. You can add chopped nuts, but I left them out since Josh is allergic and I really don’t care for nuts in my cookies and bar treats.

Next, you beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks and gently fold in the brown sugar.

You cover the bars with the meringue topping and bake for about 30 minutes. And then you impatiently wait for the bars to cool so you can can cut and devour them. Oh wait, these were for a party so I couldn’t devour them all, but I did sneak a taste. I loved the cookie base, but the best part of these bars is the brown sugar meringue topping. The topping is sweet, crackly, and melts in your mouth.

Everyone at the party loved these bars and wanted the recipe. When I told them they were Mud Hen Bars, they looked confused. I told them not to worry because I don’t know why they are called Mud Hen Bars either:) I still have no idea, but I don’t really care. All I know is that these bars are super duper delicious and that is all that matters to me!

mud-hen-bars1

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Mud Hen Bars

Yield: 24 bars

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs, divided (1 egg, 2 yolks, and 2 egg whites)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I added this)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 cup chopped nuts (I left these out)
1 cup light brown sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 pan and set aside.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together butter and granulated sugar until creamy. Beat in 1 whole egg and 2 egg yolks (put aside the whites for later.) Beat in the vanilla extract.

3. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Blend until just combined. Spread mixture into 9x13" pan. Sprinkle with marshmallows, chocolate chips, and nuts-if using.

4. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in the brown sugar. Spread mixture evenly over marshmallows and chocolate chips. Bake for about 30 minutes or until bars are a deep golden brown. Let bars cool completely. Cut into squares and serve.

Recipe from Sunday Baker

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99 Responses to “Mud Hen Bars”

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  1. Pingback: Mud Hen Bars Take Two | Everyday Grace of La La

  2. 84
    Yummyinmytummy — September 22, 2011 @ 12:12 pm

    Made these last night and they were delicious!

    Thanks

    • Two Peas replied: — September 22nd, 2011 @ 2:03 pm

      Yay! Glad you liked the Mud Hen Bars!

  3. 85
    Laura B — October 14, 2011 @ 9:43 pm

    I know where the name comes from!!! The name, ‘mud hen,’ comes from a term used to describe homely or unattractive individuals– or at least it’s the term my elderly mother used to describe them. :) But these bars are NOT unattractive at all!

  4. 86
    Tia — October 28, 2011 @ 10:16 pm

    I gained five pounds just looking at the pics! Thanks Peas! Ummm I think?

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  6. 87
    Bethany — November 30, 2011 @ 6:03 pm

    Maria, how many bars did you cut these into? I am thinking about taking them to a cookie swap, but I am not sure how tiny they can be and still be “enough” if that makes sense. Thanks for sharing the recipe and all your pictures/directions. I am looking forward to trying them!

    • Two Peas replied: — November 30th, 2011 @ 6:54 pm

      It makes a 9×13 pan. You can cut them really big for 12-16 servings or small for 24. Just depends on how big you want the pieces:)

  7. 88
    Cecelia — December 6, 2011 @ 10:07 am

    This recipe has been around for quite awhile – my grandmother(back in the 50′s) made them quite often, but without the chips and marshmallows.

  8. 89
    Amy — January 3, 2012 @ 4:28 pm

    I live in Toledo, OH and we have a minor league baseball team named the MudHens! I am so going to make these bars on opening day!! Wait – I don’t think I can make it till April! May have to make a test batch!! They look so YUMMY!!! Thanks! Pinning the recipe right now!!!

    • Two Peas replied: — January 3rd, 2012 @ 5:35 pm

      Thanks Amy! Enjoy the bars!

  9. 90
    Brighid — January 3, 2012 @ 6:14 pm

    These were delicious and fun to make. I made them for a party I went to and everyone absolutely loved them. I wonder if you could make them with a brownie bottom too?

  10. Pingback: Mud Hen Bars « Lea & Jay

  11. 91
    GisanRD — April 12, 2012 @ 10:11 pm

    Grew up eating Mud Hens in Upper Michigan. Grandma’s had nuts instead of choc and m’mallows, then coconut in the meringue. Super yummy……

  12. 92
    Kayleigh — May 10, 2012 @ 10:18 am

    Just made these – they smell great. :) (And the dough tastes pretty good too!)

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  14. 93
    Lisa — August 19, 2012 @ 6:00 am

    Thanks for a fantastic recipe. My daughter made these onteh weekend and they were amazing!
    http://www.aspoonfulofsugardesigns.com/2012/08/mud-hen-bars.html

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