9.08.2012

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars

So I'm a little bummed.

I try not to complain about anything on LSM because let's be real, who wants to read about the poor woes of another?  But life happens and sometimes you just gotta vent.  And luckily, it's nothing life changing or dramatic.

It's my knee.

Okay, that sounded dramatic.


I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned this on LSM, but lately I've been getting into running a bit more than normal.  I decided to team up with a friend of mine [an avid distance runner] to train for the Omaha Half Marathon coming up September 23.  The training has been great and I started to run distances I thought only 'crazy' people did [sorry, but it's true!].  But a couple of weeks ago, I tweaked my leg somehow and it's been downhill from there [figuratively speaking].  At times I couldn't even keep a slow jog going without my knee hurting and often times it even effected walking.  I tried putting off exercise for a number of days but lo' and behold, I was back out [painfully] running again. 

Well, the knee has just been too much lately.  Before, I was able to do the Stairmaster but now it's gotten to the point where my knee hurts even doing that.  Every work out session has become a pain in the a** [excuse my frustration] and I've just had enough.  So despite my efforts to resist modern medicine, I'm heading to the orthopedist this Monday to see what's going on.  All I hear is 'cha ching!'


And that's all I have in regards to that.  Thanks for hearing me out.

But you know what cheers up any and every person on this Earth?  I do.  And I bet you could guess, too.

Cookie Dough.


Whether you like to admit it or not, I know that during your lifetime you've snuck a finger swipe here or there of mom's chocolate chip cookie dough.  And then went back for more.  Well, I seemed to have found the perfect treat for you cookie-dough-lovin' spirits out there [myself included] and I know you won't be able to get enough of this stuff.

Basically this bar is one big slab of cookie dough topped with a heavenly, thick, and rich layer of melted chocolate and peanut butter [the best combination known to man].  Cookie Dough.  Chocolate.  Peanut Butter.  HELLO!  Nothing more needed here.

I think my knee even feels better now  .


My Notes:
  • The ingredients list says to use milk chocolate chips for the topping, but feel free to also use the left over semisweet mini chocolate chips.  Up to you!




Ingredients:
Cookie Dough:
1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened
3/4 c. packed light brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. all purpose flour
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
2 c. mini chocolate chips

Topping:
1 c. creamy peanut butter
2/3 c. milk chocolate chips

Directions:
  1. In a large bowl, mix together butter and light brown sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).  Add vanilla extract and beat until combined.
  2. With the mixer on low speed, alternate mixing in flour and sweetened condensed milk and mix until combined.  Gently fold in mini chocolate chips with spatula.
  3. Line 8x8-inch pan with parchment paper.  Press the cookie dough into the pan (the cookie dough may be sticky, so lightly flour your hands).
  4. Cover the bars with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight until firm.  
  5. For topping, combine the peanut butter and milk chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and heat until smooth.  Spread the mixture over the cookie dough bars.  Chill the bars for 1 hour or until topping is firm.  
Yield: 16 large bars


post signature

68 comments:

  1. Jess,
    This looks so yummy. Hold on while I get a napkin. Have to try this,,, thank you for the recipe.
    Patricia

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    Replies
    1. Haha your comment cracked me up. I'd love to know if you end up making these!

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  2. I'm here from Mix It Up Monday because I couldn't resist clicking on that chocolate chip cookie dough bar recipe. I moved to Omaha for 2 years (20 years ago) and now have kids in High School here. Glad I found you. Joined your site as a follower, so I'll be back.

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  3. This looks delish!
    I'm so sorry about your knee--hopefully it is repairable. 10 years ago I went from being super Mom--exercising daily running 6 kids everywhere, PTA president etc. etc.
    One day I couldn't move my leg. Eight back surgeries later my life has changed in so many ways. Now my focus is to stay out of a wheelchair as long as possible. I can finally walk 2 very slow miles. Life is full of changes. Good luck!

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    Replies
    1. Wow, what an amazing story. I give you kudos for pulling through all of that. Just shows you how grateful we must be for even the simplest of things, right? Thanks for the inspiring story :)

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  4. Are you kidding me??!! Look at that chocolate layer on top. Pure heaven, if you ask me! These sound so amazing. Thanks! Sorry about your knee =o( Glad these helped =o)

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    Replies
    1. These pretty much are little bites of heaven, so rich and addicting! I'd love to know if you made these yourself!

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  5. Sorry about the knee. :( I was having knee and hip problems and couldn't run for about a month. I almost thought I was going to give into a life of obesity.. haha Hopefully it gets better for ya!
    This recipe looks so amazing! I love cookie dough! Thanks for sharing!

    I am a new follower and I would love for you to visit me and join my site as well!
    riversrecipereview.blogspot.com

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  6. YUMMY!!! These look like the perfect treat!! Being pregnant anything sweet with chocolate and peanut butter is very appealing! :) I have pinned this and will be making it very soon!

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    Replies
    1. Oo I can imagine myself eating about half of the pan if I was pregnant. Eating for two, right?! ;)

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  7. I am really sorry about the knee!!! That sounds painful, but hope yo have some answers (good ones!) soon! At least we can all turn to cookie dough for support! Love these bars, I have to pin these!

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  8. Thanks for following me on twitter. I followed back and hopped over here to say hello.. I am a cookie dough addict haha, so this is perfect for me! I think I may pin these. :)

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  9. I don't see a pin it thingy to pin it to pinterest. I guess I will email it to myself :)

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  10. So sorry to hear about your knee - that really is a bummer. A few years back I got into running and had the worst problem with my shins and it got bad enough I had to taper off entirely, give it a long rest, and slow build back into it. Anyway, I hope it works out for you and thanks for sharing this decadent comfort in the interim. Amazing and I'd eat the whole pan right now ;) I'm featuring this post in today's Food Fetish Friday (with a link-back and attribution as always). Thanks for always inspiring me with your creations...

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  11. Jess,
    So sorry about your knee, hopefully the orthopedist helped. And I'm SURE this yummy looking treat helped too. I can't wait to try this recipe. Thanks so much for linking up to Creative Thursday. Can’t wait to see what you share next week! Have a wonderful weekend
    Michelle

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  12. Just a caution against eating raw flour. It can harbor salmonella bacteria. It used to be thought that the danger in eating cookie dough was because of the raw eggs, but it turns out flour can be a culprit also.

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    Replies
    1. I have heard the same thing - but you can "bake" the flour before using it in recipes that call for it to be raw. Just put some on a cookie sheet and bake it at 350 for awhile. It might turn brown, but that is fine. I can't remember the exact amount of time, but I'm sure if you googled it, it would be found ;-)

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  13. Sorry about ur knee! But things could be worse...I "contracted" rheumatoid arthritis when I was 20 & went from health to almost complete immobility. Two knee replacements 20 years later & many, many meds w/ horrific side effects & a pending ankle replacement, I'm just happy to only have to use my canes on occasion. keep up the spirits! This recipe will make my day!!! Thx! : D

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  14. I can't believe I have to wait until it's chilled to finish it!!! My husband and I tasted the dough and we want to keep eating!!!

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  15. Hi! I just found your site thru Iowa Girl Eats. As I was reading the post I thought, "Hey! I'm in Omaha" and then I clicked on your pic and saw that you work at UP. My husband works at UP. So I had to say "hi" and I'll definitely keep visiting your blog!

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  16. Sorry about your knee :-( I fell on my tailbone a few weeks ago on a train in Italy (and got an authentic Italian ambulance ride after fainting). It's really annoying to get up out of chairs with the speed of a 90 year old and be limited to walking on the treadmill.

    Question - should the peanut butter be sweetened or can I use the natural kind? (do you think it'd be too bitter if I also use semi sweet choc chips?)

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  17. This cake dont need to bake??? how about flours?

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  18. I'd like to curl up on the couch with a pan of those right now!

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  19. The recipe looks yummy, but the knee issue is serious! Listen to your body...this isn't just a sore muscle you are working through. This is your knee telling you something is wrong and stop doing what is making it hurt. Let it heal up. Your knee will thank you and so will the rest of your body : )

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  20. These.were.AWESOME! I let my daughter take the last one yesterday in her lunchbox and her grapes and carrots came back home and the bar didn't. Go figure! I'll be posting my pics and recipe (with credit to you of course ;) )from these bars later today.

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  21. I wonder if you can freeze it instead of refrigerate to speed up the process?

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    Replies
    1. I don't see that being a problem at all, just don't leave them in there too long otherwise they'll come out like a rock ;)

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  22. This cake dont need to bake? Does raw flours can eat???

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    Replies
    1. No, raw flour has the same risks as raw eggs. If you wouldn't eat raw eggs, don't eat this.

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  23. Can you use regular size chocolate chips in this instead of mini? I think I'm going to try it since that's all I have at home and I really want to make these. LOL Thanks for the recipe!

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  24. Oh my gosh. These look amazing! I think I just figured out what I'm making for one of my Christmas get-togethers this year.

    I was training for a half-marathon and two weeks ago I strained my left calf muscle. I kept working out but stopped running and tried to pick exercises that didn't use my calf. It's not getting better, so I haven't worked out in two days and I plan on trying swimming tomorrow (that might be good for your knee if you have access to a pool you can swim laps in). Dealing with injuries is so frustrating!

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  25. I left these out overnight in my car last night :( I live in Mi. are these still safe to eat

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  26. I'm really sorry about your knee, but NOT sorry this recipe reached me via Pinterest. Christmas treats, here we go!

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  28. Just got done making these... the cookie dough tastes delicious. I made these in an 8x8 pan as suggested, but cut them into 64 small pieces instead of 16 large ones. The small pieces were too tall, so if you want to make smaller pieces I would recommend a larger pan. Also I felt there was too much peanut butter to chocolate for the topping.

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  30. I guess this is the ultimate winter depression killer!

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  32. I made these today, I like the basic concept, however, next time I would put in less chocolate chips. 2 Cups just seemed too much. The rest was great! My girls that are 5 and 18 months devoured them! Even my husband who is not really a cookie dough kinda guy liked them, (he had two pieces!)

    Thanks for posting.

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  33. Made these right after I pinned this recipe, should be interesting though because the can of sweetened condensed milk I opened had been turned into dulche de leche. The dough tasted delish!! Can't wait for hubby to get home to try them with the chocolate!

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  34. Is there anything to replace the peanut butter with? Unfortunately a great number of people in my family are allergic to nut butters of any kind but this recipe looks too amazing not to try!

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    Replies
    1. You could probably just take out the peanut butter all together and use more chocolate chips to make sure you have enough to spread over the bars. Another option instead of more chocolate chips would be to use butterscotch chips, I use that in my rice krispie treats and it's fabulous!

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  35. amazing and exciting update for everyone who has loved this recipe:
    I was trying to find some way to cut down on the calories/ improve health factor. Instead of a whole can of condensed milk, i used half and substituted greek yogurt for the other half. I had no idea how this would turn out.
    LUCKILY, it only improved! With this method, the cookie dough bars are like cheesecake. Texture, taste, everything. Its so great.
    I still love the original recipe, but the cheesecake-like texture the yogurt adds is amazing! Put it in a pie crust or graham crackers, still make the topping, and its a cookie-dough pie of sorts. yumm :)

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  36. Thank you for the recipe, so excited to try it! Cookie dough is my favorite thing, but I always feel so guilty eating it knowing there are raw eggs in it. Now I won't have that problem! :-)

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  37. Made these to take for my pto meeting....everyone loved them! Had requests for recipe. Even today someone asked me to make and bring in for sweets day. Don't even have to tell you how much my 4 boys love it!

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  38. Can you make these with gluten free flour?

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    Replies
    1. Don't eat raw flour at all. Raw flour has the same risks as raw eggs. If you wouldn't eat raw eggs, don't eat this.

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    2. I'm sorry I must be slow. How is flour dangerous?

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    3. Hi there. I know this is an old post and I haven't made this recipe yet but I hope to! A member of the family has celiac so we bake/cook gf a lot. I would try tapioca flour -- you may need a bit more than called for, or a combo of half tapioca and half gf oat. We've had to play around a lot but find these have the best texture (much better than rice or quiona flour). Corn and potato flours/starches tend to get goopy. Let me know if you've tried it and what worked for you!

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  39. Just made these for Easter, I'm sure they'll be a hit...Thanks for the recipe!

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  40. Just made these for Easter, I'm sure they'll be a big hit...thanks for the recipe!

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  41. Well folks, eat the raw cookie dough at your own risk, but don't say you have never been warned. We've known this information since I was a kid over sixty years ago!! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2072266/Scientists-warn-eating-raw-cookie-dough-FLOUR-riddled-bacteria.html

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    Replies
    1. And 60 years later, its still totally worth it. I've eaten since I was a kid (with eggs included), 40 years ago, and I'm still alive.

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    2. This recipe doesn't have eggs in it anyway. And I also have been eating my fair share of cookie dough for 27 years and will continue to do so until I am your age :)

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  42. Do you keep thee refrigerated when all done??

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    Replies
    1. If you don't plan on eating them right away (which is near impossible for me!) then you'll want to keep them in the fridge. They tend to get extremely soft when left out for a while. Enjoy!

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  43. Can someone please clean up the "anonymous" loan and porn postings? Thanks :)
    Recipe looks delicious!

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  44. Hello~
    Is there any suggestions for replacing thr peanut butter with something else for the topping mix? All of my family members do not care for it. Thank you!

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  45. A co-worker just made these for me for my birthday; everyone raved about them. Thanks for sharing the recipe! :) ~Deanna

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  46. I have had 3 surgeries and suffered awful pain in my knees. They were talking knee replacement surgery. I had lots of shots in the knees, didn't work. I bought Glucosamine chondriton and it took two months to get in my system but when it did it miraculously worked!

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  47. RAW FLOUR CARRIES RISKS OF E. COLI AND SALMONELLA JUST LIKE RAW EGGS!

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  48. I am thinking of making these for a bake sale, how would they hold up being on a table outside? Would they withstand the temps or melt into goo?
    Thank you! They look amazing!!

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    Replies
    1. Great idea!

      I brought these to a softball game during the summer and they did hold up but I will say they did get a bit soft. Definitely didn't melt into nothing, so you're fine there :) They were still edible/manageable and I bet they don't even last that long on your table! You could also try freezing them before hand, and that would probably make them stay more firm for longer. Best of luck!

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  49. I had trouble with these tho very yummy. Mine never sat up like the pic they were very sticky even stuck to the wax paper. I followed the recipe exact. How do I correct this problem? I was thinking more flour maybe! Any suggestions. The topping set perfectly!

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  50. Oh my. Just made these for my 18 year old nephew's party and I took a tiny bite and had to grab 3 sticks of gum to control myself from eating the entire bowl before I ever put it in the pan! These are exactly what he needed - he loves cookie dough!

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  51. Hi Jess - These look gorgeous - ideal for birthday parties because all kids love Cookie Dough. Thanks for the recipe.

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  52. Is it possible to store these in the freezer for a few days/weeks? I'd like to just take one out of the freezer every now and then... Or will that change the texture too much?

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