This chocolate chip bar recipe is a long time favorite with our family. It's made even better with the addition of brown butter and espresso.
As I was browning the butter and pulling out the sugar and white chocolate chips for this bar recipe, I realized that desserts have been in short supply here since I adopted a healthier eating lifestyle. Looking back, I see that there is only one dessert recipe posted here since the new year (Puff Pastry "Ravioli" with Gingersnap Mascarpone & Marionberry Sauce). Horrors! Truth be told, I have snacked on cookies here and there - after all, that's what moderation is all about, right? - but usually I have quelled any sugar cravings with sweet herbal tea or fruit, such as this Pink Grapefruit & Orange Compote with Ginger Yogurt.
This bar recipe is based off of a cookie recipe that my dad makes...one of my all-time favorite cookies, to be sure. I couldn't find the exact recipe, so I winged it a little and took some liberties, such as browning the butter. If you have never been treated to brown butter, rest assured that the few extra minutes required to turn the butter from a creamy yellow liquid to a nutty brown elixir of the gods is well worth it. It works beautifully as a simple sauce for gnocchi (particularly when combined with fresh sage) and takes your favorite baked goods from really good to divine.
When mixed with white chocolate chips, espresso powder and ground cinnamon, the brown butter and sugar mixture turns into a chewy bar studded with rich flavors. Remember that moderation thing I was talking about? Well, that becomes a tad bit challenging when these bars sing their siren's song. I recommend giving some away to the neighbors and freezing the extras for future bouts of "moderate eating".
(Reminder: Don't forget to enter the OXO giveaway on this post. Entries close on Tuesday, March 13 at 5pm PST.)
The recipe:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13- by 9-inch metal baking pan with cooking spray, then line with parchment paper, with parchment paper edges hanging over the side.
Melt the butter in a large skillet set over medium heat. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the butter turns golden brown. Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
In a small bowl, combine eggs, espresso powder and vanilla extract. Whisk until espresso powder is dissolved. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl, using a hand mixer), combine brown sugar, granulated sugar and cooled brown butter. Beat on medium speed until well-combined, about 3 minutes.
Add the egg mixture and beat again, about 30 seconds.
With the mixer set to low speed, gradually add the flour mixture. Scrape down the sides as necessary and beat just until the flour is combined.
Remove the bowl from mixer and stir in the white chocolate chips. Gently press the mixture into the pan until even.
Bake until the top is medium golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
Holding the parchment paper flaps, lift the bars out of the pan and let cool completely. Cut into bars and serve.
Other desserts with brown butter:
Cookin' Canuck's Brown Butter & Chocolate Oatmeal Bars
Cookin' Canuck's Brown Butter, Pine Nut & Rosemary Cookies
Recipe Girl's Strawberry & Brown Butter Shortcake
Barbara Bakes' Apple Blueberry Brown Butter Bliss
101 Cookbooks' Brown Butter Spice Cake
White Chocolate Chip Bars with Brown Butter & Espresso
Ingredients
- 14 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cups plus 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoon espresso powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups good-quality white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13- by 9-inch metal baking pan with cooking spray, then line with parchment paper, with parchment paper edges hanging over the side.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet set over medium heat. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the butter turns golden brown. Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine eggs, espresso powder and vanilla extract. Whisk until espresso powder is dissolved. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl, using a hand mixer), combine brown sugar, granulated sugar and cooled brown butter. Beat on medium speed until well-combined, about 3 minutes.
- Add the egg mixture and beat again, about 30 seconds.
- With the mixer set to low speed, gradually add the flour mixture. Scrape down the sides as necessary and beat just until the flour is combined.
- Remove the bowl from mixer and stir in the white chocolate chips.
- Gently press the mixture into the pan until even.
- Bake until the top is medium golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
- Holding the parchment paper flaps, lift the bars out of the pan and let cool completely.
- Cut into bars and serve.
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Leslie
I made these yesterday and took them to work this morning. They were completely gone in just under two hours! Thank you for such a delicious recipe. The flavors together were just terrific.
Kevin (Closet Cooking)
Those white chocolate chip bars look really good! I am definitely going to have to try using browned butter in baking.
Maureen
I don't cook with white chocolate enough. These look so good.
Sara Grace
mmm... brown butter is one of my weaknesses! these look/sound fantastic
http://adventuresofdutchandme.blogspot.com/
Nicole, RD
I love the sound of these...and they look like the perfect portion 🙂
Katherine Martinelli
Ooh I love the espresso powder in these!! And the brown butter! Ok, everything 🙂 Yeah, moderation would be hard with these bars.
Lora @cakeduchess
Portion control is so important. That photo of the butter is so tempting! Browned butter and espresso together must be wonderful. Great recipe, Dara!:)
Becky @ Project Domestication
My goodness, these look divine. I love browned butter and your flavor combo choice look perfect. I'll have to try this soon.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen
What a winning combination of flavors, browned butter is so good!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious
I recently went through a huge weight loss journey too about a year ago and I've learned that as long as you portion control and eat things in moderation, you could eat almost anything. Although having to portion control these gorgeous treat does seem like a bit of a struggle!
Lindsey @ Gingerbread Bagels
Oh how I love white chocolate and espresso! These bars look incredible. 🙂
Feast on the Cheap
I love that you browned the butter - these bars look worth every last calorie!
Meg @ Sweet Twist
Well I think I love everything in these bars. I will have to make them.
Deena @ stay at home FOODIE
Yum. I love brown butter. I use it in my pumpkin bread. Love the idea of it in a blondie.
jenna
brown buttah and espresso?? youv'e stolen my heart! 🙂 happy monday!
Marla
Oh my do these treats look great! The only question I have is how would one NOT eat the entire pan 😉