Congo bars AKA chocolate cookie bars
Congo bars are a Sunday staple at my mother in law’s house. This yummy recipe was passed down from my husband’s grandma and is one we all LOVE.
We’ve been staying at my in-law’s this weekend, until we head out to Ohio… so we just HAD to make these delicious cookie bars. They are so easy to make and are super yummy! Crispy around the edges and chewy in the middle… just the way I like them. Pure chocolate goodness I tell ya! Top these congo bars with ice cream and you have a match made in heaven. Too bad the pan was gone in about .25 seconds! Next time. ;)
Congo bars recipe ingredients
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 2/3 cup salted butter (softened)
- 3 eggs
- 2 1/2 cup flour
- 2 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 1/2 – 2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Congo bars AKA chocolate cookie bars printable recipe
Congo bars
Ingredients:
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 2/3 cup salted butter (softened)
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 2 1/2 cup flour
- 2 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 - 2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees. Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add in eggs and vanilla and stir until combined. Mix the baking powder and salt with 1 cup of flour. Pour into the butter mixture and stir in the rest of the flour. Fold in chocolate chips.
2. Grease a 12x14 pan (13x9 will work too) and lightly dust with flour. Press dough into pan with flour on your hands. Bake for 25-35 minutes or until lightly browned. Oven temps will vary. 3. Test with a tooth pick. The dough should be soft in the center.
4. Allow bars to cool and then enjoy with a cold glass of milk!
Love this recipe? You’ll love these too:
Double chocolate chip pudding cookies
Sugar cookie bars with cream cheese frosting
Thanks for reading! Come back soon!
I can taste the chocolate gooey-ness already!! My kiddos are going to lov these!
These look incredible…I can see why they vanished so quickly!
Oops, my comment…this recipe looks so good. I may try it this weekend for a girls get together. Thanks for sharing your family recipe.
Yummy!
Caprese pasta looks delicious, will try tonight.
Super delicious!! I love the gooey center. So yummy!! Thanks for the recipe!!
Yummy!! I have tried the recipe… It works
Thanks Zinnirah! We love this recipe too! It’s one our faves!
Wonder why my chocolate chips didn’t melt to give me the gooey effect:/
Hi Erika! I once made them with chocolate chips that had some of that white coating on them that they get after a while and had the same problem. Using fresh chocolate chips always works…I use Hersheys! :)
mentioned these delicious treats in my blog! thanks for sharing the recipe!
Thanks for posting these! We love them and make them far too often now :)
I’m so glad you love them! Whenever my family is deciding which dessert to make, these are always at the top of the list! :)
You and your sweet recipes are going to make me gain 50 pounds! Lol!
Haha! You’ll have to pick one treat to make a week! ;)
Had a recipe for these about 20 yrs ago, but after several moves it got misplaced. I loved them, so thanks for this recipe & many happy memories of making these.
I’m so glad you found the recipe again! It is definitely a recipe I would not want to lose…my family loves them! :)
My aunt used to make Congo bars all the time when we would come to visit as kids. I loved them! Your recipe tasted just like I remember them. Thanks for bringing back memories that I can now share with my kids!
I’m so glad the Congo bars brought back great memories! These are our families favorite treat! I got the recipe from my mother in law! :)
My mom has always made congo bars, but our family recipe is different than you’re recipe. If they are anything like that my mom makes, then I know the are delicious!
Congo bars are my FAVORITE! I love how soft, gooey, and chocolately there are! Glad you grew up with them too!
I have tried quite a few of these recipes . They are great and easy
I love these recipes too, they are so easy and always delicious! Thanks for stopping by!
I made these a few nights ago. My co-workers loved them but I felt like they were missing a little “something” – I would probably add vanilla next time.
I just re-read the recipe from my mother-in-law and it had 1 tsp of vanilla! Thanks for catching that Sara, I just updated it! Hopefully they turn out a little better next time! :)
They are LITERALLY in my oven right now. Totally stoked to taste them. I accidentally put them in the pan without adding the vanilla so I kind of stirred it in… hope they work out!
I hope you liked them Jessica! They are definitely a family favorite in our house! :)
AMAZING! I EVEN ADDED MARSHMALLOWS TO IT. THANK YOU!!
i ran out of butter so i used coconut oil instead. And do not forget to add the vanilla, it was listed in the ingredients needed, but not in the instructions on when to add it.
I’ve made a s’mores version of these with marshmallows and graham crackers and the marshmallows really do make them yummy! :) Thanks for catching that…I will add where to add the vanilla in the recipe! Glad you liked this family favorite recipe!
Just put them in the oven, can’t wait to see how they turn out! :)
I hope you enjoyed these Catherine! These gooey bars are definitely a family favorite!
Why didn’t mine come out gooey?
Hi Erika! I’m sorry yours didn’t turn out gooey, you must have cooked them too long. The first time I made my mother in law’s recipe, mine came out more cakey. Next time make sure to cook them less and they should be gooey! :)
Like a previous poster, these did not turn out gooey for me. I cooked them for 29 minutes, because at 25 minutes only the edges were brown. But at 29 minutes, the edges had burnt.
Hi Katie! I’m sorry these didn’t turn out for you. The first time my sister made them, she said they were more cakey, with a little less flour they turned out perfect for her. Maybe try that! :)
So happy to see this recipe! My mother used to make them 50 years ago and I somehow thought they came from the Congregational Church. :)
It is such a delicious recipe! I’m so glad it got passed down to me! :)
The gooeeyyyy chocolate! Yumm! This looks so good!
The gooey chocolate is my favorite part! SO GOOD!
This looks so beautiful!!! I will try it this week end or the next! Will be bringing it to church… So I get my piece and it’s gone, coz for sure I can finish the whole pan!
Thanks! It is a family favorite. :)
these are amazing. I took a cpl of tips from chocolate chip cookie recipes and omg is all I can say. I used sea salt rather than reg salt and I cut flour and used 1 cup of cake flower and the rest reg flower and also used 2 hefty tablespoons of vanilla if not more because we love the flavor in the cookie recipes. Happy baking !!!
I’m so glad you liked these Congo Bars, they are a family favorite! Thanks for your comment. :)
Are you oven temperatures in c or f ?
Farenheit
These are great I put them in a square muffin tin to bake do they are easier to pack in my sons lunch box for school as an occasional treat. Love that we can share recipes around the world ( I’m in Australia)
Thanks for your comment Kathy! :)
Was wondering if anyone tried using dark chocolate chips the larger ones. I don’t know if they will be sweet enough.
That sounds delicious!
I LOVE the name of your blog. I heart nap time too! I’ll bet a nap will be called for after a few of these congo bars. Yum.
I’ve made these Congo Bars twice for my guy and he loves them! His grandmother used to make them so I was thrilled when I saw your recipe used butter like she did.
The recipe is perfect every time. I’m making more tomorrow. I call them high-end chocolate chip cookie bars. They’re delish!!