Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars = Shorter Yield to Yum Time

Since this chocolate chip cookie recipe is baked in a brownie pan you reduce your prep time by cutting out bars instead of rolling the dough into individual little balls to make cookies... which means shorter Yield to Yum time! :) ...and OH MY GOD did I just use a finance term to make a baking analogy?!?! Something is wrong with the finance to baking ratio here...Clearly stocks, bonds and investment concepts still flood my mind and its been days since my exam! So, to balance things out I made these cookie bars. After my first wave of exams this week I was in serious need of some baking therapy.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

from Cooks Illustrated

(makes 24 bars)

2 cups + 2 T AP flour
1/2 t salt
1/2 t baking powder
12 T butter
1 c brown sugar
1/2 c sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 t vanilla

2 cups chocolate chips (about one 12 oz bag)

1. Preheat oven to 325. Melt butter in a large microwave safe mixing bowl. Alternately you could try browning the butter to make a richer flavored bar.

2. Add sugars and melted butter to a mixing bowl and mix until combined. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.

3. Dump in your dry ingredients except chips, and fold together with a spatula or wooden spoon, just until combined. (or use the paddle attachment on a kitchen aid and gently mix on low speed) Don’t overmix or the gluten will develop and make the cookies tough. Fold in the chocolate chips. (you could add nuts or what ever you'd like. This is a flexible recipe. I think walnuts or macadamia nuts would be delicious!)

4. Dump dough into lightly greased (or parchment lined) 9×13 pan. Using your hands, press the dough to evenly cover the pan. (the dough will be kind of greasy, but don’t worry). Bake until just set in the middle, 22-27 minutes. They might seem a bit undercooked but if you wait until the top is golden in color then you'll end up with a more solid crunchy cookie versus a chewy gooey chocolate chip cookie bar. 

Ps. Just like a classic cc cookie you're going to need a glass of milk with these :) 

Pps. I've been loving almond milk lately. Yummm! You should try it. I'd love to make my own it looks really easy but since almonds are so expensive its more cost effective to just buy the milk for $3 instead. : (

Nutritional Facts: (makes 24 bars)

Calories 211, Fat 10.4g, Carbs 27, Protein 2.6g, 

Vitamin A 4%, Calcium 4%, Iron 5%