Neiman Marcus Bars (Texas Gold)

Neiman Marcus Bars are a Texas treasure for sure!

Ingredients

Bars

• 1 stick butter, melted
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 (18.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix*
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 1 cup pecan pieces
• 1 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Icing

• 1 (1 pound) box confectioners' sugar (4 cups)
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese (room temperature)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 300 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
2. Blend melted butter, eggs, cake mix, coconut, pecans and chocolate chips (if using) together by hand. Place mixture in prepared pan.
3. Smooth out and pat down as best as possible.
4. Beat confectioners' sugar, cream cheese and vanilla and almond extracts with electric mixer until smooth.
5. Pour over cake mixture and bake for 1 hour (check at 45 to 50 minutes).
6. Cool and cut into squares, diamond or triangle shapes.

Notes

* 18.25 ounce boxes of cake mix have been replaced by 16.5 ounce and 15.25 ounce boxes. To compensate for the volume loss in a 16 ounce box, whisk 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour into the dry cake mix before proceeding with the recipe. To compensate for the volume loss in a 15.25 ounce box, add 1/2 cup + 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour and 1/4 teaspoon baking powder.