raise the cookie bar

Part therapy for me during the holidays is to bake cookies,  it is an easy thing to do from start to finish and is what I like to call, an instant sort of gratification.  Some things I do just take lots of patience but baking a bar cookie is easy.  Give this recipe a try, your home will smell so good too!

ginger chocolate-chip bars  (recipe from real simple december 2008)

1 cup butter

1 1/4 light brown sugar

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

4 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 teaspoons ginger

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

2 1/4 cups flour

12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

Mix butter and sugars til fluffy, add eggs, vanilla, gradually add in flour, mix and fold in the chips.  Spread batter in a  9 x 13 pan lined with parchment paper - overhang along the edges - which helps for an easy clean up.  

Bake 40 to 50 minutes in a 350 F oven.

I learned to cut them into squares with  a plastic knife while hot, which really is easy!  I found boxes at the container store and tie with a ribbon and greenery!

Cookies during the holidays make everything sweeter!