Wednesday, December 10, 2008

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!

15 comments:

Things That Inspire said...

This looks wonderful, I don't think I have ever made cookies like this. This would be a good weekend activity with the kids!

Living the life in The Little City said...

Yum. I have such a sweet tooth. Thanks for the recipe!

High-Heeled Foot in the door said...

Ohhh. Sounds yummy. Can't wait to try them out.

hello gorgeous said...

Wow, those sound great! I love ginger and chocolate!

My word verif. is mumban. That's what I will sound like while trying to talk with mouth stuffed full of these cookies.

hello gorgeous said...

P.S. What size pan?

Also, my aunt just sent me Silpat. Yay!

heidi said...

YUMMMM!!!!

pve design said...

hello gorgeous,
I use a 9 x 13 pyrex, but it depends on how thick or thin, I also found it it better to under bake a bit so that they are soft and yummy.
bake on! I love my silpats too! Great invention.
pve

summer said...

oh my... i couldn't agree with you more! Just this morning I made a list of all the Christmas cookies I grew up with- trying to decide which will make it onto my "to bake" list for this year. Will stock up my cupboards with ingredients and plant myself in the kitchen soon!
thanks for the recipe!

Rachel said...

Yum! I am a full supporter of baking therapy. I'm doing gingerbread this week, partly because I love how spicy the house smells while I work on it.

Kwana said...

I was a lucky recipient and can testify that they are delish. Thanks for sharing, Patricia!

Tara said...

These sound yummy and I love it when I have all the ingredients!

Unknown said...

Yummm!!!

Karena said...

These sound delicious! Ginger does have such a nice scent for the holidays.

Joyce said...

Sounds and smells so... good! Thanks for the great recipe!!

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

Oh, you know I love me some cookies! I'm reminded I still need to round up my aprons for you and do a post one of these days.