Congo Bars

Congo Bars are easy to make and don’t take much time, either. They use the same batter as chocolate chip cookies, but are baked, at a lower heat, in a pan to make bars. You can also double the recipe and use a 9 by 13-inch pan.

 

MAKES 16 TWO-INCH SQUARES

 

Ingredients:

 

½ cup butter or margarine, at room temperature 

¼ cup sugar

½ cup dark brown sugar

1 egg

½ teaspoon vanilla

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

¾ to 1 cup chocolate chips

 

. . . . . . . .

 

Instructions:

▪ Preheat oven to 350˚ F. and lightly grease an 8-inch square baking pan.

 

▪ In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter or margarine on low until soft, then add both of the sugars and beat on medium until light and creamy.

 

▪ Add the egg and vanilla, and beat again.

 

▪ In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda and salt, then add it to the first mixture and mix to blend it well.

 

▪ Stir in the chocolate chips.

 

▪ Spread the batter in the pan using a knife place to make the top as level as possible.

 

▪ Put the pan in the oven and set the timer for 15 minutes to check it. It is likely that the center will be still very soft, but the edges may be becoming brown. If that’s the case, use strips of aluminum foil to cover the sides to keep them from overcooking, and then continue cooking, checking often, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The total cooking time will be around 20 minutes.

 

▪ Cool the congo bars in the pan, and then cut into squares.