Chocolate Layer Bars
Teresa’s Bake Shop – Christmas Cookie Extravaganza – 2012
I love these spectacular Chocolate Layer Bars. Even while I was cutting them I could smell the wonderful fragrance of almond extract and, of course, chocolate! They have a sugar cookie-type crust, a chocolate filling made with cream cheese, diced walnuts, and almond extract. Then the topping is made from the same ingredients as the crust only crumbled on top like streusel.
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We love these amazing bar-type cookies. I found the recipe in a magazine years ago and have made several modifications to it to get it exactly the way we like them. Unfortunately, when I typed the recipe into my cookbook back in the early 1980s I failed to note where the recipe originated from.
We have made this recipe several times for our Christmas Cookie Extravaganza. I’ve also made it lots of times whenever I wanted a delicious dessert to take along to a potluck or for company coming over for dinner.
This is a fabulous bar cookie that you and your family will adore! And everyone to whom you serve this delicious bar will want seconds, and thirds, and fourths…..yeah, it’s amazing. It’s a great cookie for holiday entertaining or gift-giving too.
When I initially posted this recipe in November 2012, I was still using an iPhone 3 for a camera and I had not quite developed the concept in photography that sometimes less is more! I had too many Christmas decorations displaying the bars and because the brownies were not on white plates they didn’t show up as well as they could have.
I’ve been systematically remaking all my first year recipes so I can retake the pictures that allow you to see these delicious recipes in a better light! (pun intended). I recently remade these Chocolate Layer Bars (September 2015) for some friends who had just had their fourth child.
Along with Ravioli Lasagna, Creamy Ambrosia Salad, and Asiago Sun-Dried Tomato Bread, these bars topped off a great meal that they really enjoyed. When their ten-year-old daughter flagged me down and told me how much she enjoyed the meal I brought them, it not only made my day, but you know it has to be good. 🙂
Chocolate Layer Bars are amazing cookies that need to be on your regular Christmas cookie baking list!
We love these decadent Chocolate Layer Bars. They taste amazing!
Almond flavoring and chocolate go so well together.
Here’s what I did.
I used these ingredients.
Start with the chocolate layer first. Put the cream cheese (cut in cubes), chocolate chips, and evaporated milk in a saucepan over medium to low heat. Add sugar and stir into the sauce pot with other ingredients. Break up the cream cheese into cubes so it melts easier. After the sauce is smooth, remove from heat.
Add chopped walnuts and almond extract. Set aside and allow to cool.
Meanwhile, soften butter in mixing bowl. Add butter, eggs, salt, baking powder, and almond extract.
Beat all ingredients with an electric mixer.
Add UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour. (Bleached flour toughens cookies, cakes and other baked goods). Stir the flour into other ingredients with a wooden spoon.
Spray 9×13″ baking dish with cooking spray. Place half of the dough into the bottom of the pan. Pat the crust into the pan.
Spread the chocolate filling so that it completely covers the crust. Sprinkle the remaining dough on top of the chocolate filling. There’s quite a bit so it will cover the chocolate mixture pretty well.
Bake at 375 for 35-40 minutes.
Here’s a look at these marvelous jewels. Chocolate Layer Bars are great for holiday entertaining. If you bring a stack of these bar-type cookies into your office they will be gone in an instant!
Here’s the recipe.
CHOCOLATE LAYER BARS
(Recipe inspired from Hershey’s)
Chocolate Layer Bars
Equipment
- 1 9x13" glass baking dish
- 1 medium sized sauce pan
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 2 wooden spoons
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- 1 electric mixer
- 1 spatula
- 1 nut chopper if nuts are not previously chopped
Ingredients
- 12 oz. pkg. Hershey's chocolate chips
- 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese cut in cubes
- 5.3 oz. can evaporated milk
- 1 cup walnuts chopped (measure after chopping)
- 1 tsp. almond extract
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour bleached flour toughens baked goods
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp. almond extract
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
Instructions
- Combine chocolate chips, cream cheese, evaporated milk and ½ cup granulated sugar in medium saucepan.
- Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until chips are melted and mixture is smooth.
- Remove from heat; stir in walnuts and 1 tsp. almond extract.
- Blend well; set aside.
- Soften butter and place in large mixing bowl.
- Add 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, salt, eggs, remaining 1 tsp. almond extract, baking powder and mix with electric mixer until creamy.
- Stir in flour with wooden spoon until soft crumbs form.
- Press half of flour mixture into greased 9x13” pan; spread with chocolate mixture.
- Sprinkle rest of crumb mixture over filling.
- Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. (This may take 45 minutes to set the bar fully).
- Cool; cut into bars.
Notes
Nutrition
- 12-oz. pkg. Hershey’s chocolate chips
- 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, cut in cubes
- 5.3-oz. can evaporated milk
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 tsp. almond extract
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 cups Gold Medal UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour (bleached flour toughens baked goods)
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- ½ tsp. salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp. almond extract
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- Combine chocolate chips, cream cheese and evaporated milk and ½ cup sugar in medium saucepan.
- Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until chips are melted and mixture is smooth.
- Remove from heat; stir in walnuts and 1tsp. almond extract.
- Blend well; set aside.
- Soften butter and place in large mixing bowl.
- Add1 ½ cups sugar, salt, eggs, remaining 1 tsp. almond extract, baking powder and mix with electric mixer until creamy.
- Stir in flour with wooden spoon until soft crumbs form.
- Press half of flour mixture into greased 9×13” pan; spread with chocolate mixture.
- Sprinkle rest of crumb mixture over filling.
- Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. (This may take 45 minutes to set the bar fully).
- Cool; cut into bars.
Time to sit down with a glass of milk and enjoy a couple of Chocolate Layer Bars.
There’s lots of rich chocolatey and almond flavors in every bite.
You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!
Luscious No-Bake Chocolate Bars
Chocolate Layer Bars
Equipment
- 1 9×13" glass baking dish
- 1 medium sized sauce pan
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 2 wooden spoons
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- 1 electric mixer
- 1 spatula
- 1 nut chopper if nuts are not previously chopped
Ingredients
- 12 oz. pkg. Hershey’s chocolate chips
- 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese cut in cubes
- 5.3 oz. can evaporated milk
- 1 cup walnuts chopped (measure after chopping)
- 1 tsp. almond extract
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour bleached flour toughens baked goods
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp. almond extract
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
Instructions
- Combine chocolate chips, cream cheese, evaporated milk and ½ cup granulated sugar in medium saucepan.
- Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until chips are melted and mixture is smooth.
- Remove from heat; stir in walnuts and 1 tsp. almond extract.
- Blend well; set aside.
- Soften butter and place in large mixing bowl.
- Add 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, salt, eggs, remaining 1 tsp. almond extract, baking powder and mix with electric mixer until creamy.
- Stir in flour with wooden spoon until soft crumbs form.
- Press half of flour mixture into greased 9×13” pan; spread with chocolate mixture.
- Sprinkle rest of crumb mixture over filling.
- Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. (This may take 45 minutes to set the bar fully).
- Cool; cut into bars.
29 Comments
Jessica
December 23, 2017 at 6:53 am
Do you use sweet or semisweet chocolate.? These sound awesome!
Teresa
December 23, 2017 at 9:21 am
Hi, Jessica, I use semi-sweet chocolate chips for the recipe. They are so awesome. You’ll love them.
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Jennifer
December 6, 2012 at 2:51 pm
This looks fab. If I hadn’t already sorted something for an Xmas bbq we’re going to tonight, I would have made these. Yum!!!
Teresa
December 6, 2012 at 4:06 pm
Try them when you get a chance. They really are wonderful.
Jennifer
December 6, 2012 at 6:40 pm
I will be. My brother and his family will be here over Xmas, so it’s the perfect chance to make something different but knowing it will be yummy.
Teresa
December 6, 2012 at 6:45 pm
You won’t be disappointed.
Jennifer
December 6, 2012 at 8:31 pm
I am now following you, so will be sure to let you know how it goes. 🙂
Teresa
December 7, 2012 at 5:50 pm
Great. We love these bars.
Reality Of Christ
December 6, 2012 at 2:47 pm
If only I had a working kitchen! I’d make these now! LOL. We are in the middle of a remodel… but these look soo yummy after weeks of microwaved food… can’t wait to get my kitchen back.
Teresa
December 6, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Once you get your kitchen back you ought to give these a whirl. They truly are amazing!
Reality Of Christ
December 6, 2012 at 4:54 pm
I will!
nutsfortreasure
December 6, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Reblogged this on Living and Lovin and commented:
COME ON follow along these are TASTY!!!!!
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theprojectboard
December 3, 2012 at 8:08 pm
These are going on my Christmas baking list. They look amazing!
Teresa
December 4, 2012 at 10:14 am
they are SOOOOOO amazing! I love the flavors of the chocolate and almond. Yum, yum! Really not too difficult either. Please let me know how they turn out.
petit4chocolatier
November 30, 2012 at 8:27 pm
Yummy, yummy, yummy!!!
Teresa
November 30, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Yeah, lots of chocolate just for you, Judy!
thehungrymum
November 29, 2012 at 11:33 pm
Are you *trying* to make me dribble on my laptop here? Stop posting such yummy looking things!
Teresa
November 30, 2012 at 5:57 pm
LOL! I’m not finished. I’m posting Apricot Almond Bars tonight, and next week I’m making Red Velvet Whoopie Pies, and a couple different kinds of chocolate whoopie pies! Those will make your mouth water!
thehungrymum
December 2, 2012 at 2:15 am
*runs off to get bib*. This could get messy 🙂
Teresa
December 4, 2012 at 10:21 am
They are wonderful, delicious, and not toooooo messy!
LizForADay
November 29, 2012 at 10:35 pm
I was thinking that it is so much easier to make one big cookie and cut it after it is backed as you did with a lot of the cookies. That is such a good idea.
Teresa
November 30, 2012 at 5:58 pm
I turn a lot of cookies into brownies if I don’t have time to roll into balls. Big time saver.
Phantom Menace
November 29, 2012 at 9:02 pm
Reblogged this on meanass and commented:
In terms of bogs not to follow during TBT, http://cantstayoutofthekitchen.com/ totally heads the list. I’ve got about nine posts just like this one in my feed. Killing me.