Toll House Cookie Bars

Golden edges give way to a soft, chewy center in Toll House Cookie Bars, a dessert that perfectly encapsulates the joy of homemade treats. These bars are a celebration of classic chocolate chip cookie flavour, transformed into an easy-to-share, no-fuss format. Imagine the rich buttery aroma filling your kitchen as these bars bake to a beautiful golden brown, studded with melting chocolate chips and offering a satisfyingly sweet indulgence. This recipe is about bringing simple happiness into your home, one delicious bar at a time.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Effortless Baking Delight: These Toll House Cookie Bars are incredibly straightforward to make, even for novice bakers. The recipe requires minimal steps and no complicated techniques, making it a perfect choice for a quick and easy dessert any time you crave something sweet.
• Classic Flavours, Convenient Form: Experience the beloved taste of classic chocolate chip cookies without the hassle of scooping and baking individual cookies. These bars deliver the same comforting flavours in a convenient bar form, perfect for slicing and serving to a crowd or enjoying throughout the week.
• Perfectly Chewy Texture: This recipe is specifically designed to achieve that sought-after chewy cookie bar texture. The balance of ingredients ensures a soft, slightly gooey center with perfectly crisp edges, creating a delightful textural contrast in every bite.
• Customizable Chocolate Intensity: Tailor the chocolate experience to your preference. Use your favourite type of chocolate chips – milk chocolate for classic sweetness, semi-sweet for a balanced flavour, or dark chocolate for a richer, more intense chocolate hit. You can even mix different types for a more complex chocolate profile.
• Ideal for Sharing and Transporting: Toll House Cookie Bars are perfect for potlucks, bake sales, picnics, or any occasion where you need to transport a dessert. They are sturdy, easy to cut and handle, and always a welcome treat wherever they go.

Ingredients

For the Irresistible Cookie Bar Base

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened. Butter is the foundation of flavour and texture in these cookie bars. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the salt level and ensures a pure, buttery taste. Softened butter is crucial for proper creaming with sugar, creating a light and airy base.
• ¾ cup granulated sugar, provides sweetness and contributes to the chewy texture. Granulated sugar helps create a slightly crisp edge and a soft interior in the bars. It also aids in browning and caramelization during baking.
• ¾ cup packed light brown sugar, adds moisture, chewiness, and a subtle caramel flavour. Brown sugar is key to achieving that signature chewy texture in cookie bars. The molasses content contributes to both flavour and moisture retention. Ensure it is packed for accurate measurement.
• 2 large fresh eggs, act as binders and emulsifiers, providing structure, richness, and moisture to the cookie bar batter. Eggs help to create a cohesive batter and contribute to the chewy texture. Use large eggs for consistent results.
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract, enhances the overall flavour profile, adding warmth and depth. Vanilla extract complements the butter, sugar, and chocolate, creating a more complex and aromatic cookie bar. Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavour.
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, the structural component of the cookie bars. Flour provides the necessary framework and chewiness. All-purpose flour strikes a balance, preventing the bars from becoming too cakey or too dense. Measure accurately using the spoon-and-level method.
• 1 tsp baking soda, the leavening agent that provides a slight lift and contributes to the chewy texture. Baking soda reacts with the acids in the brown sugar, creating carbon dioxide and resulting in a softer, chewier bar. Ensure it is fresh for optimal leavening.
• 1 tsp fine sea salt, balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavours. Salt is crucial in baking to prevent desserts from tasting flat and one-dimensional. It brings out the complexity of the butter, sugar, and chocolate.

For the Abundant Chocolate Chips

• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, the star of the show, providing the classic chocolate chip cookie flavour. Semi-sweet chocolate chips offer a balanced sweetness and chocolate intensity. Use good quality chocolate chips for the best melt and flavour. You can use milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or a mix based on preference.

How to Make Toll House Cookie Bars ?

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Step 1: Prepare for Baking

Preheat your oven to a consistent 375°F (190°C). This ensures even baking and prevents hot spots. Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan thoroughly with butter or cooking spray. Alternatively, line the pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal after baking.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars

In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer or by hand with a sturdy whisk, cream together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and packed light brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This creaming process is essential for incorporating air into the batter, which contributes to the chewy texture of the bars. Beat for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is pale and noticeably lighter in texture.

Step 3: Incorporate Eggs and Vanilla

Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition until fully incorporated. Ensure each egg is fully emulsified into the butter and sugar mixture before adding the next.

Stir in the pure vanilla extract, mixing until just combined. Vanilla extract enhances the overall flavour and should be added at this stage to ensure even distribution.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients

In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and sea salt. Whisking ensures the baking soda and salt are evenly distributed throughout the flour, preventing clumps and ensuring consistent leavening and flavour.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed or gently folding with a spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix at this stage; overmixing can develop gluten and result in tougher bars. Stop mixing as soon as the flour is incorporated and no streaks remain.

Step 5: Fold in Chocolate Chips

Gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed throughout the cookie bar batter. Ensure the chocolate chips are incorporated without overmixing the batter.

Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection

Spread the prepared cookie bar batter evenly into the greased or lined baking pan. Use a spatula or your hands to ensure the batter is spread to all corners and the surface is relatively smooth for even baking.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is just set. The center may still appear slightly soft, but it will firm up as the bars cool. Avoid overbaking to maintain a chewy texture.

Step 7: Cool and Cut

Remove the baked Toll House Cookie Bars from the oven and let them cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting into squares. Cooling completely is essential for the bars to firm up and be easily sliced. If using parchment paper lining, lift the bars out of the pan using the overhang and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into desired size squares or rectangles.

Tips for Variations

Nutty Additions

Enhance the texture and flavour by adding nuts to the cookie bars. Fold in 1 cup of chopped walnuts, pecans, or macadamia nuts along with the chocolate chips. Toasted nuts provide a deeper flavour and a satisfying crunch. Toast nuts lightly in a dry pan or oven before adding to the batter for optimal flavour.

Spice Infusion

Add a warm spice note by incorporating ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon or nutmeg to the dry ingredients. Spices like cinnamon and nutmeg complement the chocolate and vanilla beautifully, adding a cozy and aromatic dimension to the cookie bars.

Salted Caramel Swirl

Elevate the sweetness with a salted caramel swirl. Drizzle caramel sauce over the batter before baking and swirl it gently with a knife or toothpick. The salted caramel adds a gooey texture and a delightful salty-sweet contrast to the chocolate chip cookie bars. Use a good quality caramel sauce for best flavour.

Chocolate Chunk Upgrade

For a more decadent chocolate experience, substitute some of the chocolate chips with chocolate chunks or roughly chopped chocolate bars. Chocolate chunks create pools of melted chocolate and offer a richer, more intense chocolate flavour and texture. Use a mix of chocolate types for added complexity.

Espresso Boost

Enhance the chocolate flavour and add a subtle coffee note by incorporating 1-2 teaspoons of instant espresso powder to the dry ingredients. Espresso powder intensifies the chocolate flavour and adds a sophisticated depth that complements the sweetness of the cookie bars.

Serving Suggestions

Classic Dessert with Milk

Serve Toll House Cookie Bars warm or at room temperature with a tall glass of cold milk. This is the quintessential pairing for chocolate chip cookies and bars, offering a simple yet satisfying dessert experience.

Ice Cream Sundae Bar

Create a fun and interactive dessert by setting up an ice cream sundae bar with Toll House Cookie Bars as the base. Offer a variety of ice cream flavours, sauces, sprinkles, and toppings for guests to customize their own cookie bar sundaes.

Coffee Break Treat

Enjoy Toll House Cookie Bars as a delightful treat alongside a cup of hot coffee or tea. The sweetness of the bars perfectly complements the bitterness of coffee or tea, making for a perfect afternoon pick-me-up or after-dinner indulgence.

Party Platter Centrepiece

Include Toll House Cookie Bars, cut into smaller squares or rectangles, as part of a dessert platter featuring a variety of sweets like brownies, blondies, and mini cupcakes. This offers guests a diverse and visually appealing dessert selection for parties and gatherings.

Lunchbox or Picnic Snack

Pack Toll House Cookie Bars as a convenient and delicious snack in lunchboxes or picnic baskets. They are portable, hold up well at room temperature, and are always a welcome treat for on-the-go enjoyment.

FAQ

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter?

Yes, you can use salted butter, but reduce the amount of added salt to ¼ teaspoon to avoid overly salty cookie bars. Using unsalted butter gives you better control over the salt level.

How do I keep the cookie bars chewy?

To ensure chewy Toll House Cookie Bars, avoid overbaking them. Bake until the edges are golden brown and the center is just set, but still slightly soft. Overbaking will result in drier, crisper bars. Also, using brown sugar contributes to chewiness.

Can I double the recipe for a larger batch?

Yes, you can easily double this recipe to make a larger batch of Toll House Cookie Bars. Simply double all the ingredient quantities and bake in a larger 13×18 inch baking pan. Baking time may need to be slightly increased, so check for doneness.

How should I store leftover Toll House Cookie Bars?

Store leftover Toll House Cookie Bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week. Room temperature storage maintains a chewier texture, while refrigeration will make them firmer.

Can I freeze Toll House Cookie Bars?

Yes, you can freeze baked Toll House Cookie Bars. Let them cool completely, then wrap them individually or in a stack tightly in plastic wrap and then in a freezer bag or airtight container. Freeze for up to 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

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