We all love cookies, but sometimes we do not have the time to go through the cooking process of filling cookie sheets, sticking them in the oven, and waiting for them to cook. When I am in a rush and would like to bake cookies, I make cookie bars. The cookie dough is baked all at one time and cut into squares or bars. A great time saver, and they are delicious too!

Chocolate Bars

Ingredients
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 squares unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup butter or margarine in a cube, not whipped
3/4 cups sugar
2 unbeaten eggs
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, finely chopped,
Oil or spray

Preparation
In a bowl, mix together the flour and salt.

Over hot water in a double boiler on the stove, or in the microwave, melt chocolate and butter. If you need more information on melting chocolate, look in the cooking technique section.

Remove the chocolate and butter from the heat and stir in the sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and flour mixture.

The size of the pans is important for this recipe. Spread the dough thinly into two greased 8x8x2 pans like Pyrex Bakeware 8-Inch Square Cake Pan, Clear.  Sprinkle the top with the nuts.

Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until done.

Let the cookies cool a little and then cut each the cookies into 2-inch squares. When the cookies are cold store in an airtight container.

Chocolate Chip Bars

Ingredients
2 eggs
2/3 cup shortening
2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2  teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 (8-ounce) package of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preparation
Beat eggs slightly in large bowl. Add remaining ingredients except for walnuts and chocolate chips. Blend on low speed about 30 seconds. Mix on medium speed about 3 minutes until ingredients are well blended and holds together when you squeeze a teaspoon full of dough in your hand. Add chocolate chips and walnuts. Mix it with you’re hands.  When mixed together form dough into a ball. If the dough does not hold together add 1 or 2 tablespoons of milk.  Divide the dough into two parts.

Take two ungreased 13x9x2 pans like the World Kitchen 1072124 Pyrex 9” X 13” X 2” Rectangular Baking Dish (Pack of 4) . Set one-half of the dough into each pan. Press the dough lightly until the bottom of each pan is evenly covered. It will seem crumbly to you and that is the way it is supposed to look.

Bake in preheated oven at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Cut the cookies into squares, rectangles, or diamond shapes while still warm. Makes about 42 bars.

Did you know…..
You can warm up a piece of chocolate slightly in your hands and take a vegetable peeler and shave the chocolate for a topping on your desserts.

Enjoy!