Sweet Saturday!

Happy Saturday, my sweet friends! I hope you're having a lovely weekend. :o) My wonderful mom's birthday is on Monday, so I am finishing up her card and finalizing her birthday dessert plan! (Just wait until you see the frosting. Oh my.)

For today's Sweet Saturday, I'm sharing an amazing recipe that is a guaranteed success for anyone who loves cookies. Many of us have a favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, but sometimes there just isn't enough time to form all of those dough balls... bar cookies to the rescue! This has already been a repeat dessert in my home, thoroughly enjoyed by all. A new staple: Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars!

Do not let this photograph deter you. In fact, I encourage you to check out my source listed below to see accurate pictures of this. These are thick and chewy, with a plethora of chocolate chips. So many melty chocolate chips. There is essentially an entire layer of chocolate in the middle due to the humongous amount of chips! Delectable. They come together quickly, providing a perfect option for those last-minute desserts. I've made them with semi-sweet chocolate chips and also a combination of semi-sweet and milk chocolate. Both variations are amazing. These will surely be made throughout the summer, upon request and simply because we love them. :o) I highly recommend this recipe, my friends!

Thank you for swinging on by! Have a gorgeous day, filled with sunshine and smiles. :o) (And cookie bars!)

Note: If you're like me and do not have a measuring cup for 1/8th of a cup and also do not like approximating... measuring spoons save the day! 1/8 cup= 2 tablespoons. 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Yield: 24 cookie bars

Ingredients:
2 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
12 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled to room temperature
1 cup light brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups chocolate chips
Sea salt, for sprinkling over bars (Optional; I do not do this)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325º F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the melted butter and sugars together on medium-high speed until combined. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract and mix until smooth. Reduce the speed to low and slowly add the dry ingredients, mixing just until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Pour cookie dough into the prepared dish, smoothing the top with a spatula. Sprinkle cookie bars very lightly with sea salt, if desired. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top of the bars are light golden brown and the edges start to pull away from the dish. Cool bars on a wire rack to room temperature. Cut bars into squares and serve.

Source: Two Peas and Their Pod