One of the things I appreciate most at a bed & breakfast inn is a well-stocked butler’s pantry. Overflowing with various types of beverages & treats, once stocked, a good butler’s pantry is free to run on auto pilot and become fully self serve.
Fresh from the oven cookies are one of the most comforting snacks you can set out for hungry guests and there is no other cookie that says, “Welcome! We’re glad you’re here! Please help yourself,” more than the chocolate chip variety. With that in mind, the following recipe for chocolate chip cookie bars will quickly become your go-to treat—they’re fast, easy, inviting and make your inn smell delicious and homey as they bake.
Enjoy, your guests (or family) will thank you for it!
Recipe: Classic “Help Yourself” Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
(recipe from the Betty Crocker Cooky Book, circa 1963)
- 2/3 cup Shortening (butter flavored Crisco sticks work well in this recipe)
- 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/2 cup packed Brown Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1 package (equal to 6 ounces or 1 cup) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- 1/2 cup chopped Nuts, optional
Preheat oven to 375 degrees for baking.
Assembly
Combine the first five ingredients in mixer and blend thoroughly. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. With mixer on low to medium speed, slowly add the dry components to the moist ingredients, blending all together to form the basic dough. By hand, mix in chocolate chips and nuts (if desired.)
Spread finished dough into a greased, 13×9x2″ baking dish, and bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until delicately browned. Cookies should still feel slightly soft to the touch when done.
Cool completely and cut into bars, then set out and watch them disappear.
This recipe will produce approximately 3 dozen bars, depending on the size of your squares.
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on May 31st, 2008 at 6:47 am
Hooray for Betty Crocker — those old recipes really are the best! This is such a nice change from the typical chocolate chip cookie, and I’ll bet the bars stay moist for longer, too.
on May 31st, 2008 at 8:07 am
These look great. Thanks for sharing the recipe. I agree with Lydia, a nice change from the regular ole cookie.
on May 31st, 2008 at 9:42 am
I would definitely return to a B&B if they put these out! So lovely.
on Jun 4th, 2008 at 8:17 am
I completely agree with you– the best B&Bs always have some cookies, some lemonade and the makings for tea and coffee available 24/7. Love the fact that these are in bar form.