Cafe Au Lait Chocolate Chip Bars Recipes

CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIES

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and both sugars for 3 minutes, or until light, fluffy, and cafe au lait-colored (use high speed on a hand mixer and medium speed on a stand mixer). Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary. Add the vanilla and eggs and beat for 2 minutes more. Scrape down the bowl. Add the salt and baking soda and beat briefly until evenly combined. Add the flour and both chocolates, and mix on low speed until the flour is completely blended and the chocolate is evenly distributed throughout the dough.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or scrape the dough into an airtight container and let rest in the refrigerator until firm, a few hours. (Alternatively, if you don't want to wait, form the dough into balls on the baking sheet as instructed below and chill in the fridge until firm, about 30 minutes.)
• Preheat the oven to 350°F and set a rack in the middle position. Line a 13 x 18-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Drop the dough in firmly packed 1.5-tablespoon balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. (I use a #40/1.5-T cookie scoop with a wire trigger.) Bake for 11 to 13 minutes, until golden around the edges but still soft and pale in the center. Let cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining cookie dough. The cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
• Note: Some readers have had issues with the cookies being flat. This can happen as a result of using a "softer" flour. I highly recommend King Arthur All Purpose Flour for this recipe -- it's high in protein and gluten, and helps cookies hold their shape.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cookie dough can be frozen for up to 3 months. Roll the dough into balls, let set on a baking sheet in the freezer, then place in a sealable bag and press out as much air as possible. Bake as needed directly from the freezer. (Allow 1 to 2 minutes longer in the oven.) The baked cookies can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Let the cookies cool completely and store in an airtight container separating layers with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Before serving, remove the cookies from the container and let them come to room temperature.

CAFE AU LAIT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325. Lightly grease a 13 X 9 pan. Beat the eggs in a mixing bowl until light-colored and thick. Add teh sugar, beating until glossy and thick. Add vanilla and butter, beating to combine. Stir in the flour and salt. Scrape down beater and sides of bowl to incorporate.
• Set aside 1 1/2 cups batter. Stir together the coffee crystals and cream and add to the remaining batter. Spread the coffee batter into prepared pan. Spoon the reserved batter over and then run a knife through the two batter to marble them. Sprinkle with nuts.
• Bake 20-25 minutes or until the center is set. Cool before cutting.

CHOCOLATE CAFE AU LAIT

Steps:

• Heat half-and-half or whole milk over low heat. Pour coffee into milk. Combine sugar and cocoa in the coffeepot. Pour the hot milk and coffee back into the coffeepot and stir to combine. Serve.