Neapolitan Squares Recipe 🍒🥥🍫

Description

Satisfy your sweet tooth with these delightful Neapolitan Squares! This recipe, originally shared by Jean Pare from “Company’s Coming 150 Delicious Squares,” is a perfect treat for any occasion. With layers of graham cracker crumbs, coconut, and a delicious icing, these bars are sure to be a hit with family and friends. Plus, they’re quick and easy to make, requiring just 40 minutes from start to finish!

Ingredients

For the Bottom Layer:

1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup margarine
1/3 cup brown sugar

For the Second Layer:

2 cups all-purpose flour
11 ounces coconut
2 cups sweetened condensed milk

For the Icing:

4 cups icing sugar
3 tablespoons butter (remaining from the bottom layer ingredients)
Maraschino cherry juice (use as needed for desired consistency)

Optional:

If you don’t have cherry juice, you can use water with a bit of red food coloring and 1/4 teaspoon cherry or almond flavoring.

Instructions

Bottom Layer:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a mixing bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, butter, margarine, and brown sugar until well mixed.
Press the mixture into a greased 9″x9″ pan with greased sides.
Bake the bottom layer for 10 minutes.

Second Layer:

While the bottom layer is baking, prepare the second layer.
In another bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour, coconut, and sweetened condensed milk until well combined.
Spread this mixture evenly over the baked bottom layer.
Bake the bars for an additional 20 minutes or until a slight tinge of light brown begins to show on the edges.
Allow the bars to cool completely before frosting.

Icing:

To prepare the icing, beat together the icing sugar, remaining butter (from the bottom layer ingredients), and maraschino cherry juice.
Add cherry juice as needed to achieve the desired consistency. You may need to add more juice to make it soft enough to spread.
Once the bars have cooled, spread the icing evenly over the top.
Cover the pan tightly and store the bars for at least one day to soften. They can be enjoyed the same day as baked, but they will be more difficult to cut.
Serve and enjoy these delicious Neapolitan Squares!

Tips

For a burst of cherry flavor, use maraschino cherry juice in the icing. If you don’t have cherry juice on hand, you can substitute it with water and a bit of red food coloring, along with cherry or almond flavoring.
Make sure to allow the bars to cool completely before frosting to prevent the icing from melting.
For easier cutting, store the bars in the refrigerator for a few hours before slicing.

Nutritional Information (per serving)

Calories: 147.1
Fat: 8g
Saturated Fat: 5.7g
Cholesterol: 13.1mg
Sodium: 61.5mg
Carbohydrates: 18.6g
Fiber: 0.9g
Sugar: 15.5g
Protein: 1.4g

Serving Size

Yield: 36 bars

Indulge in the rich flavors and irresistible texture of these Neapolitan Squares. Perfect for dessert, snacks, or any special occasion, these bars are sure to become a family favorite. Enjoy every delightful bite! 🍒🥥🍫