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Congo Bars Recipe – The Recipe Critic


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Congo bars are mushy and chewy, full of chocolate chips and walnuts. They’re like a gooey chocolate chip cookie in bar type and could have you savoring each chunk!

Oh, cookie bars. I can by no means get sufficient of them! Serve them on their very own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on prime so as to add a bit of sweetness to your day. In case you love these congo bars, you’ll additionally should attempt brown butter blondies, sugar cookie bars, and snickerdoodle bars!

3 cookie bars stacked on top of each other.

Recipe for Congo Bars

This recipe for congo bars comes from one among my favourite neighbors. (Shoutout to the Merrills!) That is their household recipe and truthfully, it’s the most effective cookie bar recipes I’ve ever made. One in every of my son’s favourite reminiscences was going over to their home after church and getting a heat, ooey-gooey congo bar. My favourite half was when he would carry an additional one dwelling for me.

In case you’ve by no means tried a congo bar earlier than, they’re primarily chocolate chip cookie bars however with a bit of added aptitude. They’re often made with issues like chopped nuts or coconut for some further texture, and let me inform you… they’re what desires are product of. Don’t get me flawed, I like chocolate chip cookies, however one thing about making bars as a substitute is so engaging! You simply have so as to add your dough to a baking dish and pop it within the oven. It’s really easy, no shaping required! This additionally makes congo bars nice for giant gatherings, and belief me, everybody will love them! They’re buttery, mushy, and filled with melty milk chocolate and walnuts. (Translation: all the pieces a cookie bar needs to be.)

What You’ll Must Make Them

Excellent news- congo bars use your entire normal baking components, so you could not have to make a visit to the grocery retailer! Time to raid your pantry and whip up a scrumptious batch of buttery, chocolatey goodness. Take a look at the recipe card under for actual measurements.

  • All-Function Flour: That is the spine of the recipe – the flour provides the congo bars construction.
  • Baking Powder: Baking powder is what makes the congo bars rise and get all puffy and scrumptious. Don’t substitute baking soda for baking powder, as they’ve completely different chemical properties and can have an effect on the result of the recipe.
  • Salt: Only a pinch so the cookie bars end up good and flavorful!
  • Unsalted Butter: Since we add salt individually, unsalted butter is the way in which to go. Butter provides moisture and richness to the congo bars.
  • Brown Sugar: Brown sugar provides the bars a caramel-like sweetness and a chewy texture.
  • Giant Eggs: Eggs present construction and assist bind the opposite components collectively. Use room temperature eggs so that they combine extra simply into the batter and create a clean, uniform texture.
  • Vanilla Extract: Helps to spice up the general taste of the bars. It provides a contact of heat and sweetness as properly!
  • Milk Chocolate Chips: Chocolate chips are a traditional addition to congo bars – they supply bursts of candy, melty goodness in each chunk. In case you don’t have milk chocolate chips, you may attempt utilizing darkish chocolate, semi-sweet, butterscotch, or white chocolate chips as a substitute. You can too use chocolate chunks if you want, it will give the bars a bit of further texture.
  • Walnuts: (Non-compulsory) Walnuts add crunch and nuttiness to the congo bars. In case you’re not a fan of walnuts, you may attempt utilizing pecans or almonds as a substitute, or go away the nuts out altogether.

Methods to Make Congo Bars

It’s simply as simple, if not simpler, than making a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Put together to satisfy your new potluck staple! These are so easy to throw collectively and all the time successful wherever they go.

  1. Preheat Oven, Put together Pan: Preheat the oven to 350 levels Fahrenheit. Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray and put aside.
  2. Combine Dry Components: In a medium bowl, whisk collectively the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Combine Moist Components: In a big mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, stir collectively the melted butter and brown sugar. Add within the eggs and vanilla and stir till mixed.
  4. Mix: Add the dry components to the moist components and blend till mixed. Fold within the chocolate chips and nuts.
  5. Bake: Add the batter to the ready pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, not. If baked longer the bars will grow to be dry and crumbly.
  6. Cool and Take pleasure in: Let cool earlier than reducing and serving.
3-photo collage of cookie dough being mixed together.

Suggestions and Methods

Congo bars are tremendous simple and simple to make, however listed below are a couple of further issues to remember so that they end up completely. You’ll wish to maintain the entire pan for your self!

  • Solely Combine Till Mixed: Combine all the pieces collectively simply till integrated, however don’t overmix. Overmixing will make the congo bars end up powerful. 
  • Customise: Don’t like walnuts? Substitute for pecans, almonds, or every other nut that you just choose. Similar with the chocolate chips: be happy to substitute the milk chocolate for semi-sweet chocolate chips or any combination of different sorts of chocolate chips that you just like.
  • Toppings: Need to make your congo bars much more indulgent? Add a drizzle of caramel sauce or white chocolate sauce!
  • Don’t Overbake! Actually, don’t overbake these. They may proceed to prepare dinner after they arrive out of the oven, so in case you bake them longer within the oven, they are going to find yourself being dry and crumbly.

Closeup of congo bars.

How Lengthy Do Congo Bars Final?

In my home, by no means lengthy sufficient to have leftovers. In case you’re fortunate sufficient to have a couple of of those scrumptious bars left, right here’s find out how to maintain them tasting mushy and chewy.

  • At Room Temperature: Retailer in an hermetic container for 3-4 days. 
  • Within the Freezer: Congo bars can be frozen for as much as 3 months. Depart at room temperature in a single day to thaw.

Top-down view of a congo bar slice served with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup.


  • Preheat the oven to 350 levels fahrenheit. Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray and put aside.

  • In a medium bowl, whisk collectively the flour, baking powder, and salt.

  • In a big bowl stir collectively the melted butter and brown sugar. Add within the eggs and vanilla and stir till mixed.

  • Add the dry components to the moist components and blend till mixed. Fold within the chocolate chips and nuts.

  • Add the batter to the ready pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, not. If baked longer the bars will grow to be dry and crumbly.

  • Let cool earlier than reducing and serving.



Serves: 12

Energy583kcal (29%)Carbohydrates85g (28%)Protein7g (14%)Fats25g (38%)Saturated Fats12g (60%)Polyunsaturated Fats5gMonounsaturated Fats4gTrans Fats0.5gLdl cholesterol73mg (24%)Sodium147mg (6%)Potassium231mg (7%)Fiber2g (8%)Sugar59g (66%)Vitamin A444IU (9%)Vitamin C0.3mgCalcium128mg (13%)Iron3mg (17%)

All dietary data relies on third celebration calculations and is just an estimate. Every recipe and dietary worth will range relying on the manufacturers you utilize, measuring strategies and portion sizes per family.

Course Dessert

Delicacies American

Key phrase congo bars, congo bars recipe



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