I feel like I go through phases with my baking. There are times where I feel like a machine – endless reserves of energy and inspiration, and the cookies and cakes just keep on coming.
And then there are times when I’m completely uninspired, and I just want easy. You know, minimal effort, but still expecting maximum results.
So what do I do when I’m feeling less than stoked?
Bar cookies.
When it comes to baking, bar cookies are both crowd pleaser and a dream for the baker. Whip up the batter, spread it in the pan, bake, cool and cut ‘em up.
If I have a last-minute “will you bring?” or need to add “just one more” item to a dessert table, or if I’ve simply misplaced my baking mojo – well, it will almost always be a bar cookie.
Which is not to say that I don’t have my standards. I want the cookies to be neat, crisp little rectangles (no crumbly, uneven edges and sloped sides here. Uh-uh.). And I love nothing more than a little surprise tucked inside a seemingly ordinary bar.
So here are a few easy tips for creating perfect-looking bars that will positively measure up to any of the fancier cookies on your table.
The pan. I swear by this pan. It’s heavy duty, with straight sides and sharp corners. This results in nice square edges on all sides of your cookies.
The “sling”. I always make a parchment paper sling for the bottom of my pan. It allows you to easily remove the entire bar from the pan, for neat and easy slicing. To make a sling, cut a piece of parchment paper to fit into the bottom of the pan, with longer edges on the short sides. It should look like this:
You can also use aluminum foil – just grease it so that the cookies don’t stick.
The chill. Cool the cookies completely in the pan, and then transfer the bar (in one piece) to your cutting board, using the sling to assist. Stick the whole thing in the fridge for a few hours, or even overnight. Nice clean cuts are much easier to make when the bars are cold.
At this point you can either put them on your serving plate or freeze for future use. As most bar cookies have a high butter content they freeze beautifully.
And did you really think I’d tease you with pictures of these beauties and NOT give you the recipe? Of course not….
for baking tips and tricks
on weighing ingredients
adapted from Simply Scratch
For the crust:
5 cups pretzel sticks, crushed into tiny pieces
¾ cups unsalted butter, melted
For the cookie dough:
¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
¾ cup (150 g.) sugar
¾ cup (144 g.) brown sugar
2 eggs
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
2 ¼ cups (297 g.) flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
12 ounces milk chocolate chips
Pre-heat oven to 350. Line a 9 x 13 x 2 baking pan with a parchment sling – set aside.
In a medium bowl stir pretzel pieces and butter till well combined – pour into the prepared baking pan and spread pieces evenly. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and cool slightly while proceeding with the recipe.
In a mixer bowl beat butter and both sugars till light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat till blended.
In a separate bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add to butter/sugar mixture, beating just till blended. Scrape down the sides and fold in chocolate chips.
Dollop cookie dough over the pretzel “crust” and, using your fingers or a small angled spatula, spread evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or till bars are golden and a tester comes out clean. Place pan on a cooling rack to cool completely.
Using the parchment sling, remove bar from pan and transfer to a cutting board. Chill for a few hours or overnight and cut into bars of desired size (I made 32 rectangular bars).
This delicious recipe brought to you by Sheri Silver
https://sherisilver.com/2012/12/12/raise-bar/
Do you have a “go-to” easy dessert? Would you share it here?
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16 Comments
Hi! I'm Sheri!
Welcome to my little corner of the web where you’ll find easy, delicious recipes, the best kitchen hacks and simple tips for turning your home into a clean haven that is free of toxins. So glad you’re here!
These look yummy Sheri; I have to try that pretzel crust. One of the easiest desserts I can do on the fly are the “1 of everything” blondies: 1 stick butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 egg, 1 cup flour, 1 cup chocolate chips, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 dash salt. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. While the ingredient amounts may lack the exacting balance that a finer blondie demands, the simplicity (and memorability!) can’t be beat.
Thanks Tina – that is exactly the kind of recipe to have up my sleeve – especially when I’m out getting ingredients and forget quantities!! 🙂
I totally pinned this for future use and I love how pretty they turn out. This is one area in which I should definitely try to improve my devil-may-care baking attitude–mine are always a big mess!
Thanks Leslie! xo
These look fabulous!! I found your blog from the altsummmit meeting! Hope to meet you there!
Hi there! Thanks so much! Yes, let’s try to connect – it’s my first time going!
These look amazing, Sheri. You really have done what your title suggests.
Drew Biehle, you just MADE my day! 🙂
I’ve never made cookie bars! Yum, I will have to try that… the cookie bar is to cookies what a loaf is to muffins? Easier but still awesome? 🙂
My go-to party snack (like, I have 10 minutes and need to throw something together!) are these, cause sometimes candy food is good: http://hellobougeotte.blogspot.fr/2012/11/goodies-for-holidays.html
If I am having a small gathering, my fave are these cause they are SO easy (can be made ahead), I love spices and chocolate and they are so impressive (shhh, don’t tell)… I buy different fun flavours of fancy ice cream to switch it up…orange sorbet anyone? http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Winter-Spiced-Molten-Chocolate-Cakes-with-Rum-Ginger-Ice-Cream-109054
Okay – I am RUNNING out to get Rolos and pretzels – those look amazing! 🙂
Enjoy! Don’t blame me if there are not as many treats as there were Rolos! They evaporate while you’re assembling. I’ve also been wanting to try them with the mini Reese’s PB cups…
yes – we have that “problem” here too! 🙂
looks delicious I just don’t have a passion for baking. But love cooking.
Marti
Thank you! 🙂
Oh MY word – these look heavenly! Bonus that they freeze well (if there are any leftover!)
Thank you! And there are “rarely” left over! 🙂