I don’t know about you, but when I think about Valentine’s Day, I immediately think about chocolate. Rich, packed with flavour chocolate. Personally, I’m more of a dark chocolate, bittersweet kind of girl, served in any way possible. Chocolate = Valentine’s Day. In fact, for years one of my favourite Valentine’s Day gifts have been chocolate, and last year when the Mr. and I celebrated Valentine’s Day, chocolate was definitely a part of the gift package. Ahem, you might say I love chocolate. But really, there’s just something about the idea that LOVE is in the air! That people are openly expressing it! I’m such a Valentine’s Day lover in general but then again I’m also that girl that cries tears of joy at Say Yes To The Dress, or you know, that scene in Breakfast at Tiffany, or The Notebook…you get my drift.
So when I was deciding on what delicious recipe to use these Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Chips in, Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars came immediately to my mind. Not only are they much easier but just as delicious as your perfect chocolate chip cookies, they allow for the chocolate to shine through instead of just being blended together. And when I say easier, I might as simple as making the chocolate chip cookie dough and putting it in the pan. No refrigerating time, no waiting, no rolling out. I added cream cheese to make these bars softer and lighter but still offer that slightly chewy cookie texture. After some experimenting with the recipe, I found a combination that literally resulted in melt-in-your mouth satisfaction.
The funny part is that, I always use Ghirardelli premium baking chips in my baking, and for the past month I quietly devoured a bag of Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips that were gently positioned in my desk’s draw for you know, those days when the work gets harder, which my mind equated to a handful a day. I see those eyes, don’t judge me. I was even more pleased to see that their 60% premium baking chips were even larger! So you know this meant some casual snacking while the butter and the sugar was creaming, and that every bar was packed with chocolate. I tell you, I could go on all day. These Ghirardelli Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars were ah-mazing. At first, right out of the oven (since I’m greedy test tasting) they melt right in your mouth, a delicious combination of cream cheese, butter and smooth chocolate chips. Then after they’ve sufficiently cooled and you’ve only had four bars prior to, they begin to take on the character of a traditional chocolate chip cookie, soft and slightly chewy but still a decadent melt in your mouth thanks to the cream cheese, and packed with chocolate flavour thanks to the Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Chips.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
