Best Ever Cookie Bars (a nod to King Arthur Flour Recipes)

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This recipe has quickly become a family favorite. I have a handful of sister in laws and we love to share recipes. I have shared this one with my sister-in-law  Nicole (hi Nic) and she has made it popular in Wisconsin. The bars are asked for frequently at both our homes I know for certain. I love the versatility of these bars as well as the ease. I have turned them into oatmeal raisin bars and they were the most moist and enjoyable treat that my husband dreams about.  This is my go-to recipe and it is rare that I make individual chocolate chip cookies anymore. So I think you should make them the only thing that should be stopping you is the heat…although I did bake in this heat the other day -  I am just that crazy for sweets. That recipe will come soon it included peanut butter..yum!

 Ingredients
2/3 cup butter
2 cups + 2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
3 cups chocolate chips; or a combination of different flavored chips, or chips and nuts
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9" x 13" pan.



Melt the butter, and stir in the brown sugar. Add the salt, vanilla, and flavor, stir until well combined.

Allow the mixture to cool slightly (if it's very hot to the touch), then add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape the sides and bottom of the mixing bowl midway through this process.
Add the baking powder, and flour, stirring to combine.

Stir in the chips or other additions of your choice   *see below for extra ideas*
Transfer batter into the prepared pan, spreading it throughout the entire pan. Bake the bars for 30 to 32 minutes, until they've risen, and their top is shiny and golden. A toothpick inserted in the center won't come out clean; in fact, the center of the very middle of the pan may look quite molten when you test it. But so long as no wet batter is showing farther out towards the edges, the bars are done. As they cool, the center will solidify.

The most important part to this recipe is to let them cool completely before digging in - that said Davey doesn’t ever (actually he can’t) wait that long. They are delicious either way.

Some of the other versions I have made have turned out amazing. The three cups of mix ins is a great rule for this recipe. I have done 1 cup oatmeal, 1 cup butterscotch chips, 1 cup raisins. I have also added marshmallows and assorted chips, in the photos you will see red chips in the cookies - my dads favorite.

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