Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup (150g) packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup (100g) granulated white sugar
  • 1 large (50g) egg, room temperature
  • 1 tsp (5ml) vanilla extract
  • 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp (5g) baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp (3g) sea salt
  • 2 cups (340g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup (60g) chopped walnuts

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the Oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
  2. Brown the Butter. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly. Watch for the foam to subside and the butter to turn a golden brown color with a nutty aroma. Remove from heat immediately and whisk in both light brown and white sugars until smooth.
  3. Emulsify the Batter. Beat in the room temperature egg and vanilla extract. Stir vigorously until the batter looks glossy and smooth.
  4. Combine Dry Ingredients. Gently fold in the all purpose flour, baking soda, and salt using a spatula. Stop the moment no flour streaks remain Note: overmixing makes the bars tough.
  5. Add the Texture. Stir in the semi sweet chocolate chips and chopped walnuts. Ensure they are evenly distributed so every bite of these Large Batch Dessert Bars has a bit of everything.
  6. Press into Pan. Spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan, pressing it into the corners with your spatula.
  7. The Bake. Bake for 25–30 minutes. Remove the pan when the edges are golden brown and the center still looks slightly under set.
  8. The Final Rest. Let cool completely in the pan for at least 1 hour. This is where the structure sets.