I bake cookies pretty much E.V.E.R.Y. Sunday night. It always seems like the thing to do. We are usually watching "I Love Lucy" or "Leave it to Beaver" episodes, and maybe it's June Cleaver's influences. I don't know. But it's fun and the kids don't mind. It also gives me a head start on what I am going to put in their lunches the next few days. Cookies? Check.
I often make a batch of cookie bars instead of individually scooping out cookie dough. Because I'm lazy like that. You can make pretty much any recipe into a cookie bar recipe. Just lower the baking temp and raise the cooking time.
My favorite recipe calls for vanilla pudding mix. They are absolutely perfect and soft. I double the recipe and that makes a nice big batch big enough to fill up a 13x18" jelly roll baking pan. You could make a half recipe and bake it in a 9x13 baking pan/casserole dish as well.
Thick & Gooey Chocolate Chip Bars
www.glueticksblog.com adapted
4 ½ c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 (3.3 oz.) vanilla instant pudding mix
2 c. butter, softened
2 c. white sugar
1 ½ c. brown sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
4 c. chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Stir together the flour, baking soda, salt and instant pudding powder; set aside.
In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Blend in the eggs and vanilla. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon.
Press dough into an ungreased baking sheet (13x18").
Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Insert toothpick into center. If it comes out clean, they are done. If it comes out doughy, let bake another 5 minutes and check again. Cool COMPLETELY before removing from pan if using parchment paper for lining. Otherwise, cool 10 minutes then cut and serve warm.
I like using this method that I learned from Martha Stewart, using parchment paper. It works great for brownies and cookie bars. They pop right out and are easy to slice with a pizza cutter, once cooled.
Here are a few more recipes you might enjoy!
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