Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie Bars

Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie Bars

Have you ever met anyone who doesn’t love a chocolate chip cookie?

If you have, you can inform them that they are missing a soul. I’m sorry, I know taste is subjective. But I mean, come on. It’s a chocolate chip cookie!

When you’re feeling lazy, make bars instead. These chocolate chip bars are also full of chopped pecans and topped off with chocolate drizzle. The flair on top is optional, but I love me some drizzle.

Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie Bars

Of the chocolate kind, that is. Rain drizzle is just kind of stupid. It’s like the weather can’t make up its mind, so it does this half-baked job of getting us sorta wet. Indecision is never pretty, my friends.

Of all my faults, I’ve rarely been guilty of being indecisive. The worst of it usually happens at a restaurant when I’ve ordered one entrée and feel the pangs of regret as I see another one I was considering floating to another person’s table, and it looks so good.

Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie Bars

Or when I’m out shopping and there’s a dress that’s just so cute, but it also costs about a hundred bucks. To some people, that might not be expensive. But usually, that’s a deal breaker for me. Still, I stand there and hold it, wondering if there’s any way I’ll regret not buying the dress for the rest of my mortal life. But you know what? I’ve usually forgotten the dress a week later forever, so I guess it’s not a problem.

Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie Bars

It’s harder to make decisions when you feel like something really important is on the line. I mean, obviously. What people don’t get is that not making any decisions is yet…another decision. No matter what happens, options either open or close.

A while back, I talked to a friend who was having a hard time deciding whether or not to commit to her boyfriend. Her point of view was that marriage is a trap of sorts, and she was trying to put that off. My point of view is that any choice she made would be a trap. If she didn’t commit to her boyfriend and the relationship ended or stalled, then that would be one path. If she opened up the possibility of having more with him, then that would lead another way. But one way or another, her life course would change.

Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie Bars

We can’t stand still and hope that by not making any decisions, life will take control for us. By not making those choices, we’ve already set a destination, whether we want to admit it or not. That’s why people who are commitment-phobic are caught on a spiral of endless indecision. They are creating a pattern that might never change.

How’s my amateur psychology lesson going? Good? Bad? If you say I have no authority to share any opinions on this subject, you’re right. I don’t. I’m just having fun and sharing my two cents. I have more authority to talk about bar cookies.

Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie Bars

If this hasn’t come up before, bar cookies are the best. They don’t require dough chilling, or dropping dough onto a cookie sheet, or anything else that takes time. This base is kind of like a blondie. The result is a bar that pretty much replicates a chocolate chip cookie experience, minus all the work. And the pecans add crunchy goodness. And protein. This is totally a health food.

Life might be full of tough decisions, but eating a chocolate chip pecan cookie bar should never be one of them. Bar cookies rule!

 

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Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie Bars

Ingredients

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour
1 and 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips (with an extra 1/2 cup for drizzle, if desired)
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350. Line an 8-inch square pan with foil, leaving enough to hang over the sides. Coat with cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, and then mix in the vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated.
  4. Fold in the chocolate chips and pecans. Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes until browned and set.
  5. Cool completely. If desired, melt the 1/2 cup chocolate chips in the microwave for about 1 minute. Stir until smooth and drizzle on top of the bars with a spoon.
  6. Allow the drizzle to harden. Cut into squares. Store in an airtight container.
http://justaboutbaked.com/chocolate-chip-pecan-cookie-bars/

Mir

I fulfill many roles in life: wife, mother, teacher, everlasting learner. This site is dedicated to one role that expresses my creativity in ways that I find consistently challenging and rewarding: baker. Inventing new ways to enhance food, especially if that food involves chocolate or peanut butter (or both!), is a passion of mine. I look forward to sharing my ideas with you.

This Post Has 23 Comments

  1. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

    I’ve never met anyone that doesn’t like chocolate chip cookies, and I hope I never do! I agree, bars are the way to go when you’re feeling a little lazier. These look fantastic, Mir! Just what I need on this Wednesday morning!
    Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Corn, Edamame and Chickpea SaladMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Gayle! Seriously, I think chocolate chip cookies must be universally loved.

  2. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom

    Ah, decisions decisions. . I can be a little indecisive but I’m usually always able to decide when it counts. 🙂 I guess I’m a bit of a romantic and a little old school but I think people like your friend still just need to meet the right person and then committing wouldn’t be as hard. Or maybe she hasn’t had good role models of what marriage should be like (these are rare but beautiful). anyway, whatever she decides, hopefully she’ll have peace about it! Mir, I love these cookie bars .. I’m seriously going to make these today! stay tuned!
    Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Filet Mignon BurgerMy Profile

    1. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom

      one more thing. . just so my comment above isn’t misunderstood. . I’ve had friends like your friend and the reason I said that was b/c in some cases, they saw their parents divorce or fight all the time and so, felt like t marriage was a trap .. like your friend. . anyway, some of them still aren’t married. . but marriage isn’t for everyone? Some couples are perfectly happy not being married. . ok I’m done. 🙂
      Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Filet Mignon BurgerMy Profile

      1. Mir

        Not misunderstood at all, Alice. I definitely don’t think that everyone should get married. I think commitment is different than being legally married (more a frame of mind, really), and that people who never ever commit are often lonely. Not always, but often. In my friend’s case, her parents are happily married, and she’s happily committed to her boyfriend now. She always knew he was special and different and the one, but she couldn’t bring herself to make that call because her life as a single woman was pretty awesome too. So yeah. But I hear everything you’re saying!
        And about the cookie bars…let me know if you make them, and how they turn out! 🙂

        1. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom

          Mir, I had the best intentions to make these bars yesterday and then, of course, I an out of time. all the ingredients on the counter and the recipe printed out. Will be making these next week for sure! We are on vacation starting today through Monday! hooray! (I was going to make these for our drive to MN). we’re flying out from here.
          Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Filet Mignon BurgerMy Profile

          1. Mir

            My best intentions always go awry, Alice, so no worries! Have the best vacation and get lots of fun and rest. MN is lovely this time of year! Not in the winter, though. 🙂

  3. Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen

    Nope, I have never met anyone who doesn’t love a chocolate chip cookie. These bars look fabulous, Mir! Super delish and YUM!
    Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen recently posted…Garlicky Spinach Mango Tomato Pizza with Hot Pepper Sauce and FlakesMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Me neither. I’ve got to start asking more!

  4. Medha @ Whisk & Shout

    Love the post today (and of course the recipe- chocolate and pecan together are a smash hit). I am definitely familiar with the entrée-envy at restaurants, so I always try and convince someone at the table to get the other one I wanted and we split half and half- a win win! And one of the things that kind of hit me about relationships was when my friend told me that when you’re with someone, you’re either going to get married or breakup. That’s the end game. So every decision you make, just moves you towards one of those paths, which I think is super interesting!
    Medha @ Whisk & Shout recently posted…Weekly Obsessions!My Profile

    1. Mir

      That’s true, Medha! I love the deep thoughts. 🙂

  5. Jen | Baked by an Introvert

    I could get down with the bars. It would be the easiest desicion to ever have to make. And if someone claimed they didn’t like chocolate chip cookies, I would certainly question the truth in that.
    Jen | Baked by an Introvert recently posted…Fudgy Oatmeal BarsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Yep. Something definitely wrong with anyone who says that!

  6. Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust

    Haha I solve that restaurant problem by ordering ALL THE THINGS. And then I wonder why my pants don’t fit… Ha!!
    Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted…Peanut Butter Almond RocaMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I really like that solution, Dorothy! Forget the pants. Not missing out is so much more important!

  7. Amanda

    These look so homey and cozy. I could imagine curling up with a book in the winter and having one or two of these by my side. 🙂
    Amanda recently posted…Chocolate Chunk Pumpkin BarsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I love cozy blankets and being warm with treats in the winter, Amanda!

  8. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary

    Hahaha! You crack me up girl! But you are also oh-so-wise! You are right, indecision is terrible, and I’m normally only really indecisive over dinner choices as well.. I do the same thing you do! Anyways, I’m sitting here contemplating if I have a soul, or if maybe you are willing to bend a little in your opinion. I am deathly allergic to cocoa, so obvi I do not like chocolate chip cookies. BUT I DO LOVE white chocolate chip cookies!! So can you please tell me I have a soul. I might cry myself to sleep otherwise. 😉 Anyways, theses bars rock the house. Easy, Peasy and packed with chocolate chips (i’ll use white ones thank you very much), and pecans AND finished with a fabulous drizzle? YUMMMMMM! LOVING these! Naturally- pinned! Cheers, girlfriend. To being soul-less? 🙂 hehe. <3
    Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary recently posted…Oregano Chicken Mediterranean Zucchini Noodle BowlMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Oh, that’s right! I forgot about your allergy, Cheyanne. How totally thoughtless of me. 🙂 Will you forgive me?
      Seriously, you have a soul. And white chocolate chips would be totally perfect. You are awesome.

  9. Manali @ CookWithManali

    Only today I had a little kid telling me “I don’t really like chocolate chip cookies”?!!! I didn’t even know what to say, how can anyone not like CC cookies and too a kid? What kind of a kid doesn’t like chocolate chip cookies? Ok I guess i’ll stop! Love these bars Mir, yay for more chocolate!!
    Manali @ CookWithManali recently posted…Herb Garlic Roasted PotatoesMy Profile

    1. Mir

      That little kid needs some serious remediation, Manali. Intervention time! 🙂

  10. Trish - Mom On Timeout

    That drizzle on top of these bars is just perfect Mir! And I couldn’t agree more, bars are the BEST for cutting down work time. These look amazing!
    Trish – Mom On Timeout recently posted…No Bake Peanut Butter Cheesecake PieMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Trish! I love bars more than any other baked good. Always.

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