NICO AND AIDAN'S OOEY, GOOEY, CHEWY BARS

We made this without the nuts for Aidan and then without the coconut and the nuts for Nico. I like it with all of the ingredients.

For the Crust:

1/2 of a chocolate cake mix
1/2 stick (2 ounces) melted butter

For the Filling:

2 cups milk chocolate chips
3 cups miniature marshmallows (pack them down in the cup)
1 1/2 cups flaked coconut (pack it down when you measure it)
1 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 ounces) - buy two and make the recipe twice, there is enough of the other ingredients

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put the 1/2 of the cake mix into a medium bowl. Drizzle the melted butter over the top of the bowl and mix it in with a fork. When the butter is incorporated, the mixture should resemble small beads.

Spray a 9" by 13" cake pan with Pam and dump the crust mixture in the bottom. Gently shake the pan to distribute evenly and then press it down a bit with a metal spatula.

Sprinkle the chips evenly over the crust layer. Sprinkle the marshmallow over that. Sprinkle the flaked coconut on next and sprinkle on the chopped nuts. Press it down again with the metal spatula. Pour the condensed milk evenly over the top.

Bake the bars at 350 degrees F. for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the bars are nicely browned on top.

Let the bars cool on a rack. When they are cool, cut them in brownie-sized pieces. Don't refrigerate without cutting them first. They are very dense and solid when chilled.

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