Grandma's Congo Squares Recipe: The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar (8 Ingredients) by Gale Gand

I was looking through my Grandma Elsie’s recipe card file and found the perfect thing to make for Ella’s school bake sale: Congo Squares. I forgot how good they were! My brother and I used to sneak them out of her chest freezer in her basement so I even like them frozen. Try this easy Congo Squares recipe that is Grandma Elsie Grossman approved!

Photo credit (all photos): Gale Gand

Here is your shopping list for these old-fashioned Congo Squares: butter, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, salt, baking powder, all-purpose flour, semisweet chocolate chips, walnuts or pecans and shredded coconut. Sounds heavenly, right?

Serve these sweet chocolate chip cookie bars for dessert or as a delicious snack during the day.

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 to 40 minutes
Total Time: 45 to 50 minutes
Servings: 35

Ingredients 

• 2/3 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 1/4 cups brown sugar, packed
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 3/4 cup flour (all-purpose or gluten-free flour)
• 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Optional Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut

Here's how to make it: 

1. Line a 13x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 
2. In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or in a bowl with a hand mixer, cream the butter. 
3. Add the brown sugar and cream well. 
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix in completely. Mix in the vanilla. 
5. In a bowl combine the salt, baking powder and flour. Add to the mixing bowl and combine on low speed. 
6. Fold in the chocolate chips and nuts and/or coconut, if using. (You could use dark or milk chocolate chips.)
7. Spread the batter evenly into the pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool, then cut into 2-inch squares (5 rows by 7 rows). Store the bars in an airtight container.
   

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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