Chewy Louies: The Ultimate Dessert Scrap Saver (AKA The Leftovers Bar)
Being gluten-free and top 9 allergen-free can be expensive, so wasting even a scrap feels painful. Enter Chewy Louies, a dessert bar (similar to bread pudding) that breathes new life into your leftover cookies, cake, muffins, and more. Did you try a new cookie or cake from the grocery store and hated it? Save it in the freezer until you’re ready to make a new batch of Chewy Louies. Every batch is unique, and it's a sweet way to surprise your friends and family with a dessert that's always a little different!
Ingredients:
2-3 cups crushed leftover cookies (processed in a food processor)
2-3 tbsp Spectrum shortening (2 tbsp for every cup of cookies)
Leftover cake, pie, cinnamon rolls, muffins, or any baked goods - even if they have frosting (make sure you have enough to fill the top of the dish)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 cups alternative milk (I use Rice Dream)
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a deep 9x13-inch casserole dish (or aluminum pan like this one) and line with parchment.
Crush your leftover cookies in a food processor and mix with melted shortening. This forms the crust.
Press the cookie mixture evenly into the bottom of the casserole dish with the back of your measuring cup and bake for 12-14 minutes.
Let the crust cool for 10-15 minutes.
Crumble your leftover baked goods (cake, pie, muffins, etc.) over the cookie crust, spreading them evenly to fill the dish.
In a liquid measuring cup, whisk the granulated sugar into the alternative milk. Pour this mixture evenly over the layered scraps.
Allow the milk mixture to soak in for about 20 minutes.
Bake again at 350°F for 20-25 minutes until set.
Once cooled, pop out the parchment and cut into bars (about 3x3). Serve warm with your favorite allergen-free ice cream or top with ganache.
Storage: Bars can be frozen for up to one month.
Pro Tip: Got cookies or cake that dried out? Don’t toss them! Crumble those sweet scraps into parfait layers, sprinkle over ice cream, or mix into yogurt for a crunchy surprise. You can even blend them into a milkshake for a decadent twist. Waste less, snack more — it's a win-win!
The best part about Chewy Louies? Each batch is a surprise, and nothing goes to waste! 🍪🍰
