Chocolate Chunk Potato Chip Cookie Bars

Let’s talk about name-brand groceries for a moment.  Do you buy them?  Do you buy store brand?  Do you really pay much attention?

I have always been one to consider the store brand when making purchases, with most things, that is.  They usually do not fail me and they almost always save a few bucks!

However, there are certain things that are no-questions-asked-buy-the-real-thing kind of groceries.  For example – in our house, the only mayonnaise we buy is Hellman’s.  My husband practically requires Hellman’s.  You will never find store-brand ranch dressing, only Hidden Valley takes residence in our fridge.  You all know how I feel about sugar – I’m pretty partial to Imperial.   And I grew up with nothing other than JIF peanut butter in the pantry.  I don’t buy much cereal but when I do, I buy the real stuff.  And lastly, potato chips just won’t do unless they are the real deal.

Growing up I always remember these certain “splurges” at the store that my mom allowed.  We didn’t get chips very often but when we did, Cape Cod Chips are what we chose, and still do.  Cape Cod chips are one of my #1 favorite road trip snacks – give me an iced tea and a bag of Sea Salt and Vinegar chips and I’m good to go!

And since it’s National Potato Chip Day, I thought we should celebrate with a sweet and salty treat – Chocolate Chunk Potato Chip Bars.  I’m a fan of sweet-and-salty treats.  I’m a huge fan of potato chips in my cookies and if you have never tried it, you should wait NO longer, my friends.  It will blow you away!

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Chocolate Chunk Potato Chip Cookie Bars

Yield: 24 bars

Total Time: 40 min

Classic soft and chewy cookie bars baked with salty potato chips & sweet milk chocolate chunks.

Ingredients:

10 5/8 ounce (2 1/8 cups) all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
3/4 cup (12 Tbs.) butter, room temperature
7 ounces (1 cup, packed) light brown sugar
3.5 ounces (1/2 cup) granulated sugar
1 Tbs. vanilla extract
1 egg
1 egg yolk
3 ounces milk chocolate chunks
3 cups kettle-cooked potato chips, I like Cape Cod Original chips

Directions:

Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick spray and set aside.

In a small bowl, mix the flour, baking soda and salt and set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugars together until fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add the vanilla and eggs and mix an additional 3-4 minutes until the mixture is creamy, fluffy and no streaks of fat remain. Add in the dry ingredients and mix just until incorporated, no longer than 30 seconds. Add the chocolate chunks and mix a few seconds, and then add the potato chips, mixing only a few seconds. Some of the chips will break - that's ok.

Spread the dough out into the prepared pan and press it into the corners, spreading evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 22-25 minutes until baked through. Don't overbake! Cool completely before cutting.

Cassie's Notes:
I decided to add a little milk chocolate at the end. If I would have had butterscotch chips, I would have tossed those in instead but I was out.

If you are a big chocolate fan, you can increase the chocolate. I kept the amount low because I just wanted a little taste, but didn't want it to overpower the taste of the chips.

I strongly suggest you measure the flour and sugars in this recipe in grams. I have made this recipe countless times and it just comes out better when I measure with a food scale. However, if you don't have one, just be careful not to over-pack the flour (use the spoon-and-sweep method for measuring) and pack the brown sugar tightly.

Disclaimer: Cape Cod provided me with a case of their chips to try out.  I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are 100% my own as always. I just like to share products that I truly love and use in my kitchen!