this was sooooo good! it took around 20-25 min to get completely cooked, but i just waited for the meringue to get a nice tan on it, and took it out. the edges were beginning to crack a bit, and it was puffed up in the middle. it was perfect. yes, the meringue cracked when it was cut into squares, but no one cared! this was fabulous!!! a new favourite.

This recipe has great potential, but I had a couple of problems with it. First of all, these bars had a very nice flavor, but needed a little salt! I did substitute unsweetened applesauce for 1/4 cup of shortening, but had problems with the bottom of the dessert being underbaked. It needed to be baked at least 10 minutes longer than the recipe stated. Also, the meringue looked beautiful and puffy as it baked, but when I took them out, it shrunk down and pulled away from the side, creating a rather ugly appearance. The one redeeming thing about this recipe is that it is tasty; like a giant chocolate chip cookie topped with meringue. With a few alterations, this could be outstanding!