Vacuum Cleaner Bar Cookies

Packed with pantry-friendly ingredients and bursting with texture, Vacuum Cleaner Bar Cookies are the ultimate fusion of sweet, salty, chewy, and crunchy goodness. This customizable dessert combines shredded coconut, dried fruit, chopped nuts, crushed pretzels, and gooey chocolate chips, all folded into a buttery, golden-brown cookie base. Perfect for using up odds and ends in your kitchen, these bar cookies are easy to whip up in just 15 minutes of prep time and bake to perfection in under half an hour. Whether served as an afternoon snack or a crowd-pleasing treat, these decadent bars are sure to satisfy every craving. Plus, they store beautifully, making them an ideal make-ahead dessert solution!

Nutriscore Rating: 41/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 1 cup All-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon Baking powder
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 cup Unsalted butter, melted
• 0.75 cup Brown sugar, packed
• 0.25 cup Granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
• 1 unit Large egg
• 0.5 cup Chocolate chips
• 0.25 cup Shredded coconut
• 0.25 cup Chopped nuts (e.g., walnuts, pecans, or almonds)
• 0.25 cup Dried fruit (e.g., raisins or cranberries)
• 0.25 cup Crushed pretzels

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8x8-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.

Step 2

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

Step 3

In a large bowl, mix the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until well combined.

Step 4

Add the vanilla extract and the egg to the wet mixture. Beat until smooth and creamy.

Step 5

Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. Do not overmix.

Step 6

Fold in the chocolate chips, shredded coconut, chopped nuts, dried fruit, and crushed pretzels.

Step 7

Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.

Step 8

Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.

Step 9

Remove the pan from the oven and allow the cookies to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.

Step 10

Once cooled, cut into 12 bars and serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(619.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2398.4

Total Fat 72.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 35.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.1g
Cholesterol 186mg	0%
Sodium 2332.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 432.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 18.4g	0%
Total Sugars 285.1g
Protein 32.4g	0%

Vitamin D 41IU	0%
Calcium 271.1mg	0%
Iron 14.4mg	0%
Potassium 1400.4mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 25.9%

Protein: 5.2%

Carbs: 69.0%