Not long after I married Recliner Man he asked me if I knew how to make Prayer Bars. I had no idea what he was talking about. I had no idea what a sheltered and empty life I had been living.

Prayer Bars are little bits of Heaven that his mom would sometimes make at Christmas. She didn’t really like to share her recipes with me but like most moms she couldn’t turn a deaf ear to her baby’s pleas. With the recipe secured we started making Prayer Bars part of our family tradition. If you ask Recliner Man he will tell you that it just isn’t Christmas without Prayer Bars and Aebelskivers.

Don’t let the recipe frighten you - they sound more complicated than they really are.

Prayer Bars

First Layer

• 1/2 cup butter or oleo
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon cocoa
• 1 slightly beaten egg
• 1/2 cup coconut
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs

Melt butter and cocoa over hot water in a double boiler, then stir in the rest of the ingredients. Press evenly into the bottom of a 9″x13″ pan.

Second Layer

• 1/4 cup butter or oleo
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons of canned cream - carnation (I wasn’t sure what she meant so I’ve been using evaporated milk)
• 2 teaspoons dry vanilla pudding (not instant type)

Melt butter, vanilla and cream in double boiler. Add pudding, mix and cook for 1 minute. Do not over cook. Remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar. Spread over the first layer.

Third Layer

• 1 Large Hershey Bar (These aren’t as big as they use to be so I usually end up using about 1-1/2 bars)

Melt chocolate in double boiler. IMPORTANT: The hot water from the previous step will melt the chocolate, no additional heat is needed. Spread over second layer and cool for 15 minutes. Mark squares lightly for easier cutting later.