So, these Red White and Blue Chocolate Chip Bars are these wonderful, chewy, buttery cookie bars that have just the right balance of vanilla milk chips and chocolate chips. A delicious layer of tempting vanilla buttercream and some high-spirited red, white and blue accessories to make it red, white and blue 'official'!
Ahhh...I'm so happy! Memorial Weekend will be coming up before you know it. Like a week and half from now. I need to get to crackin' on sharing some patriotic treats with you that I know anyone in your circle will love!
You don't know how hard it was for me to make these with vanilla frosting versus chocolate frosting on these? I went with vanilla buttercream, the right choice!
Plus, it goes with the theme of course! Red, white and blue! There's just something about vanilla buttercream that is just so classic.
You might think it's weird, but I like a little salt in my frosting. Especially vanilla buttercream.
It really brings out intense flavors of the vanilla extract and butter. I usually add just a touch more to chocolate chip cookies and bars when I bake them on any given day.
For flavor in food, whether it's savory or sweet, a little salt can take flavors to another level. It cuts the sweetness a bit. Like this Best Home-made Salted Caramel Sauce. A lot of salt, is not good. But you know this already right?
But tell me, do you love it when you can taste a tinge of salt in your cookies and vanilla frosting like me?
So, this past weekend our son moved out, so I made these for him as a going away 'yummy' to take along with him.
I'm going to hate that he's not here to eat the sweets now. I'm hoping he stops by often so he can take them off of our hands. I don't want these staring me in the face for any number of days because you know why.
These are sincerely, the most perfect sweet treat to share! Share at a picnic, a barbeque or those family gatherings for your weekend for sure! And remember the red, white, and blue accessories!
For more red, white and blue ideas, check out 20 Red, White & Blue Patriotic Desserts to Proudly Hail, this Retro Red White and Blue Explosion Cakeand these 4th of July - Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cup Double Stuffed Oreos!!
Red White and Blue Chocolate Chip Bars
Ingredients
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars:
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup mini choc chips
- ½ cup vanilla milk chips
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:
- ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter softened
- 3 cups sifted powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream divided
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 9x13 pan with foil and spray with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt, set aside
- Using mixer, add butter and sugars together in a mixing bowl and mix on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy about 2 minutes.
- Add eggs and vanilla and mix until combined, about 1 minute.
- Add in the flour mixture to the wet mixture and mix together until combined.
- Stir in chocolate chips using a rubber spatula.
- Press cookie dough evenly into pan. (I lightly spray my finger-tips with cooking spray to make it easier or you can do it with a rubber spatula.
- Bake for 30-35 mins.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
- While cooling, make the frosting.
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:
- Using mixer, mix all the ingredients together until creamy and frosting consistency you like. You can add more powdered sugar if you need it to be a little stiffer or add in more cream if you need it more creamier.
- Frost cooled cookie dough bars with frosting and add decoratives immediately after frosting, because the top of the frosting will firm up, so they won't stick.
- Cut into small squares.
ChocolaTess says
You are so sweet! Thank you so much Janine! xo
Janine says
All of your recipes are amazing thank you for always sharing
ChocolaTess says
Pat, thank you so much for letting me know, I don't know what happened, but it's updated now. I hope you enjoy them!!!
Pat says
In the instructions there's no mention of when to mix in the flour and salt.
ChocolaTess says
He better! I can take stuff to work too, thank goodness! Thank you Kelly!!
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats says
I’m almost positive your son will be back over regularly to get some of your yummy treats (and a hug from his momma!). These bars look so yummy! I’ll take the leftovers 😉
ChocolaTess says
The texture of this is outstanding. Couching it with a big skillet of these sounds totally amazing! Ha! Great idea Maria!! Thank you!
Maria | kitchenathoskins says
Love the fun color themed buttercream but, I'm all over that cookie bar. The color and texture looks insanely delicious, I'm totally tempted to bake that dough in a skillet and settle on the couch with a long spoon:)
ChocolaTess says
Thank you so much Teresa!! They are pretty tasty!!
Teresa Ambra says
My mouth is watering. Love these.
ChocolaTess says
OMG yes for sure Katherine! I love it when you can change up the sprinkle colors for whatever occasion. I hope your enjoying your baby girl!! Awww...I remember those days, lots of snuggles and kisses.
ChocolaTess says
Yea I am glad I can pawn them off on him and his friends for sure! Thank you Kelsie and yes that little bit of salt is KEY! Happy Weds!!
Katherine I LOVe in my oven says
Yay for summer and all the festive recipes!! I might use this for Canada Day and leave out the blue 😉 Yum!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
I need a little salt in my sweets. The other day I was making frosting for cupcakes and when I tasted it something was off, so I looked at the recipe and realized I'd forgotten the salt. It's amazing how just a tiny bit makes the flavors pop! Your son is lucky that he can pop over any time and find some sweet treats--and you're lucky to have someone to pawn them off on , haha!