Description
Classic chocolate chip shortbread cookie bars blend buttery richness with sweet chocolate chips. Crisp edges and crumbly texture make these treats irresistible for hungry snackers seeking comfort in each delectable square.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup (1 stick / 113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
- ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- ½ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips, plus more for topping
- 1 ½ cups (6.75 oz / 192 grams) all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp almond extract
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F and line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring overhang for easy extraction.
- Mixing Base: Whip softened butter and sugar together until achieving a voluminous, pale cream-like texture that appears light and fluffy.
- Liquid Integration: Incorporate egg, vanilla and almond extracts, and salt into the butter mixture, blending until completely smooth and uniform.
- Dough Formation: Gradually mix in flour until a cohesive dough develops, then gently fold chocolate chips throughout, distributing evenly without overmixing.
- Pan Distribution: Carefully spread the dough across the prepared pan, pressing firmly and evenly to create a consistent layer that reaches all corners.
- Baking Process: Position pan in preheated oven and bake for 28-30 minutes, monitoring until edges turn golden brown and center appears set but slightly soft.
- Cooling and Setting: Remove from oven and allow shortbread to cool completely within the pan, enabling the bars to firm up and develop optimal texture.
- Serving Preparation: Utilize parchment paper edges to lift entire shortbread from pan, then slice into precise rectangular bars ready for serving.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Matters: Use room temperature butter for smooth, easy creaming that ensures a light, fluffy texture in your shortbread bars.
- Chocolate Chip Distribution: Fold chocolate chips gently to prevent overmixing, which can lead to tough cookies and uneven chip placement.
- Baking Time Watch: Check bars around 25 minutes to prevent over-browning; every oven differs slightly in temperature and heat distribution.
- Cooling is Crucial: Let bars cool completely in the pan to allow proper setting and achieve the signature shortbread crumbly yet tender texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 17
- Calories: 202
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 37 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 27 mg