Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

The magical cookie bar. How do I explain to you the power of these cookies? Upon tasting these cookies, grown men will cry. Make these, and you possess the power to change the course of history. Once people know that you are capable of such greatness, they will expect it forever...you will be making these cookies on a regular basis for the rest of your days, but... you will not be sorry. Because, these cookies, these squares of ooey gooey, chewy, chocolatey magic..they're worth it.

Okay, so here's the deal without all the over-the-top (but very true) drama. I have been making these cookie bars for so long that I don't even remember when I started. Every person I have known has loved and requested them over and over. They're just great. I have shipped them across cities; I have shipped them across states... I am convinced that the people I love may miss these cookies more than they miss their maker, but that's okay. I understand because these cookies are THAT GOOD.

They're everything a person could want in a cookie. They're soft, sweet, a little chewy, and a lot chocolatey. They're also sturdy, so they keep awhile, and they ship beautifully (a fact my loved ones are thankful for).

So, here's my not-so-secret secret...

The recipe is on the back of this bag. Yep, you heard me...It's on the back of Tollhouse bag. People have begged, pleaded, and bargained  for this recipe, only to learn the truth...the recipe they want so desperately has been right in their hands the whole time.  The funny thing is...when they learn the truth, they don't want to believe it. They argue with me, telling me that I must be keeping some secret from them. But..I'm not.

The coveted recipe really is ON THE BACK OF THE BAG. Pinky swear :-)

Here's how you do it.

Gather your ingredients.

Beat the sugars and butter in a bowl.

Add your eggs and vanilla.

Mix up the dry ingredients.

Add them to the butter and sugar.

And...add the chocolate chips!

I like to use the mini chips when I'm making bars because I think they distribute better. 

Also, at this point, you can really add whatever else you want..nuts, toffee, different kinds of chips...go crazy...it all works in here.

Here it is. The cookie dough that could change the course of history... resist the urge to eat it all (you know, salmonella..blah blah, finish what you start..blah blah), and...

Dump it all in a pan. All of it. No need to be gentle...just dump it all in there.

Spread it out, and bake it.

And then, just take a moment to take them in. A whole pan of magical, golden, gooey, chocolatey goodness. 

But, you can't have them yet. Yep, sorry. You have to let them cool. 

Go distract yourself...do dishes, go for a run, cry in the corner while you stare longingly at the forbidden cookie bars... until...

They cool!

Cut them into bars, and you're done!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

(adapted from Tollhouse)

Ingredients:

2 sticks butter, unsalted

3/4 c brown sugar

3/4 c sugar

2 eggs

1 T vanilla

2 1/4 c flour

1 t baking soda

1 t salt

bag of chocolate chips

toffee, nuts, or other add-ins

Directions:

1. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy (about 3 min). Add eggs and vanilla and mix until incorporated.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, soda and salt. Slowly add flour mix to butter mix. Add in chocolate chips.

3. Spread dough into greased jelly roll pan and bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 min, until just golden.

Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Store in an airtight container and...

ENJOY!

Package them up and share them with the people you love; you won't be sorry...and neither will they!