Chocolate Chip Bars: National Chocolate Chip Day

Today is National Chocolate Chip Day! What a reason to celebrate. I've posted lots of different recipes for Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Chip Macaroons, Chocolate Chip Pancakes and Chocolate Chip Biscotti, but I'm pretty sure I haven't posted a recipe for Chocolate Chip Bars. My favorite recipe is adapted from an original Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip recipe for Chocolate Chip Pan Cookies. They're really bar cookies, and I guess it's just all about how the cookie crumbles....

Lots of options in this recipe, too. You can use nuts or not and the nuts you use can vary. You can also add dried cherries or dried blueberries. Whatever you decide, enjoy the day!

CHOCOLATE CHIP BARS

Ingredients
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt (original recipe called for 1 tsp/but I don't use as much salt)
1 cup sweet butter, softened (original recipe didn't discern sweet or salt, but I use sweet)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar (original recipe didn't stipulate dark or light)
1 teaspoon Madagascar vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions
PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan (a baking sheet with 1 inch deep sides)*.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chips and nuts. Spread into prepared pan.

BAKE for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.

Photo: Nestle's Tollhouse