Divas’ Decadent No-Bakes

Visions of sugarplums – or at least sugar, dance in our heads, with dieting on hold for a New Year’s resolution. We box these easy cookies with a pretty bow for the perfect gift for a hostess, a teacher, a senior pal, neighbors and kids. (Quick, give them away so you won’t be tempted.)

While baking can be a zen experience, the divas prefer not to turn on the oven during the hectic holidays. Here’s a quickie that leaves time for family and friends – but wows the lucky recipient. It’s an addictive combo of butter, chocolate and rich, salted nuts on a platform of sweet graham cracker, ready to wrap in less than an hour.

            Wishing you happy holidays!    

Divas’ Decadent No-Bakes

Makes 48 bars

14 double graham crackers

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup butter

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 cups deluxe salted nuts

Line a 15 X 10 X 1-inch jelly roll pan with graham crackers; set aside.

Combine sugar and butter in a 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture come to a full boil, 3 to 5 minutes. Boil stirring constantly, for 5 minutes.

Immediately pour mixture over graham crackers. Spread to coat; sprinkle with chocolate chips. Let stand 1 minute, then spread chocolate chips.

Immediately sprinkle with salted nuts, lightly pressing into chocolate. Cool and break into pieces.