The 89-Year-Old 'Dream Bar' Recipe That's Simple and Timeless
89-Year-Old Dream Bars
In my family, we have hundreds of hand-written and passed down recipes that we covet and hold dear to our hearts. One set specifically has been passed down for four generations — going unchanged or altered — and it is our family's baking recipes for cakes, cookies, pies, and breads. This is by far my family's favorite set of recipes, which is why we had it printed and bound into hardcopy family keepsakes.
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I feel that each recipe tells a story about a specific feeling during a specific time. In a way, it’s like reaching back into the past and sharing a moment with those who came before you. There’s a feeling of love, a sense of comfort and a show of respect every time we read, follow and partake in the experience. And this is exactly what drove me to try this 89-year-old recipe for dream bars — to enjoy a unique treat that’s been around for decades.
Found in The Lincoln Star in 1934, the recipe seemed easy enough to make and sounded like it would make a delicious cookie, so I grabbed all of the ingredients I needed and preheated the oven.
Get the recipe: 89-Year-Old Dream Bars
Courtesy of Dante Parker
Ingredients for the 89-Year-Old Dream Bars
For this simple recipe, you'll need unsalted butter, dark brown sugar, flour, two large eggs, vanilla extract, salt, baking powder, shredded coconut and chopped nuts.
How to Make the Make 89-Year-Old Dream Bars
The process is extremely simple and can be broken down into two parts. The first part is the base and it's actually very similar to the Chick-fil-A Lemon Meringue pie crust I created earlier this year (albeit sans graham crackers).
Mix the butter, a half cup of sugar and a cup of flour in a food processor until it's the consistency of breadcrumbs. Pour the crumbs into an 8-inch square pan, and pat evenly and firming using the base of a drinking glass or metal measuring cup. Bake for 10 minutes on 350°F, then set it aside to cool.
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Courtesy of Dante Parker
Next up is the top layer. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and the remaining sugar until frothy. Next, add in the vanilla, some flour, salt and baking soda, and continue to mix. Lastly, stir in the nuts and coconut and pour it over the cooled crust.
All that’s left is to pop this baby into the oven for another 25-30 minutes, then allow it to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Voila!
What I Thought of the 89-Year-Old Dream Bars
I don’t know why, but these bars definitely remind me of Christmas. There was no cinnamon, apple or nutmeg listed in the ingredients list, but even without them, my mind kept imagining that there was or maybe should have been. Maybe it’s because of the brown sugar, but these puppies are plenty sweet and plenty tasteful, with each bite reminding me of a nutty, buttery praline.
The ingredients are simple, and the baking process is even simpler, making it clear why this recipe has been passed around for the last 89 years. There’s no waste, fluff, or overly complicated component to this recipe. And to me, it truly feels timeless.
Courtesy of Dante Parker
Tips for Making the 89-Year-Old Dream Bars
Get creative. While I think these bars are as close to perfect as a baked treat could be, you can always dress them up with a drizzle of chocolate and/or caramel sauce. A bite of these bars with a spoonful of vanilla ice cream would make this the perfect holiday dessert.
