Root Beer Bars

This is one of my go-to faves.  It's unique yet delicious.  Always a crowd-pleaser and you can count on no-one else bringing them to the potluck.  They are reminiscent of a soft, chewy cookie-type-bar.  Many grocery stores carry root beer extract, but in case you have trouble finding it - I buy mine at our local beer/wine-making supply store.  Please note, this recipe also calls for actual root beer soda.  Use whatever kind you prefer.  

Root Beer Bars

Ingredients:

Bars

4 Cups Flour

1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

1 Cup Sugar

1 Cup Brown Sugar, packed

1 Cup Butter, softened

1/2 Cup Root Beer, flat

2 Large Eggs

2 Teaspoons Root Beer Extract

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Icing

1 and 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar

1 Tablespoon Milk, Flat

1 Tablespoon Butter, softened

1 Tablespoon Root Beer Extract

For the Bars:

Step 1:  Heat Oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.  Meanwhile, in a medium sized bowl stir together four, baking soda and salt.

Step 2:  In large bowl, beat together both sugars, the butter, root beer, eggs, root beer extract and vanilla until well combined.  

Step 3:  Add the flour mixture to the sugary mixture and stir until just combined.  This will be a thick dough-like batter.

Step 4: Spread the dough evenly into a greased 9x13 baking pan.  Bake for 25 minutes.  Let cool before frosting.

For the Icing:

This is intended to be a thin icing, so do not be alarmed!  In a small bowl, combine icing ingredients and mix with a spoon until smooth.  Add more powdered sugar if too runny;  add more milk if it is too thick.   It should coat a spoon nicely.  Spread onto cooled bars.  The icing will sink into the bars and set nicely.  The hard part is waiting!  Be sure to store these in a covered container so that they don't dry out!