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Congo Bars

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These soft and chewy chocolate filled Congo Bars are a great recipe to make the next time you have company over. Make them and watch them disappear.

Congo Bars - these soft blonde brownies are loaded with chocolate chips. Perfect recipe to make for any party! #cookies #chocolate #easy #recipe #blondebrownies #brownies #cookiebars

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All through my high school years, I made these chewy cookie bars of deliciousness for every youth group event that needed food. It was must my sure fire recipe that never failed me and was always asked for.

Every time I showed up with a pan, these Congo Bars got devoured in no time at all.

Then I went to college, got married, had kids, and forgot about these treats. Until a few months ago when I was going through some old recipes I had kept.

Now you may think they are just a blonde brownie, so what is the big deal?


Congo Bars - soft and chewy blonde brownies loaded with chocolate chips. Great recipe for any party! #cookies #chocolate #easy #recipe #blondebrownies #brownies #cookiebars
I can’t explain it. These classic cookie bars just have a slightly different taste than these M&M Blonde Brownies.

There is just something about a Congo Bar that I can’t resist.

I just had to whip up a batch right away to see if they were as good as I remembered.  And these bars did not disappoint me!!! 

Soft, chewy, chocolatey goodness in every bite.  Before I knew it, I had eaten quite a few bars.

It’s a good thing I cut the pan into mini bars this time because I just sabotaged the morning workout I did.

Congo Bars - these classic cookie bars are chewy and loaded with chocolate chips! Awesome recipe to make and share! #cookies #chocolate #easy #recipe #blondebrownies #brownies #cookiebars

How to bake Congo Bars:

The key to these gooey bars is not to over bake them.  I have always baked this recipe for 30 minutes. Never more, never less.

This gives the bars a very slightly crunchy top and sides, but the center of the bars stay soft and gooey.

All ovens bake differently though, so this could affect the bars. We have lived in different places over the years, and I have baked them in so many different ovens, but I still stick with the 30 minutes.

They will look under done when you first pull them out of the oven, but stay with me.  Let them sit on the counter and cool completely before you touch them.

The center will fall slightly, but this is normal.  Just trust me, and do not bake them more.

We usually let them cool completely because they stay in a bar shape better.

But next time scoop out a big bowlful of hot gooey goodness and plop a scoop of ice cream on top.  Holy cow! Cookie dough goodness with melty ice cream is pretty much the bomb!

Congo Bars - chewy blonde brownies loaded with chocolate chips is the perfect party recipe! #cookies #chocolate #easy #recipe #blondebrownies #brownies #cookiebars

More cookie bar recipes that you may like:

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Congo Bars recipe:

Yield: 24 bars

Congo Bars

These soft and chewy chocolate filled Congo Bars are a great recipe to make the next time you have company over.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup butter, softened
  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 3/4 cups flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick baking spray.
  2. Beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat again.
  3. Stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt and slowly add to the butter mixture until a soft thick dough forms.
  4. Stir the chocolate chips in by hand. Spread the mixture in the prepared pan.
  5. Bake for 30 minutes. Do not over bake!!! Remove and let the bars cool completely before cutting into 24 bars. Store in a tightly sealed container.
© Jocelyn @ Inside BruCrew Life
Congo Bars - soft and chewy blonde brownies loaded with chocolate chips makes these the best dessert recipe for any party! #cookies #chocolate #easy #recipe #blondebrownies #brownies #cookiebars

 

(original photo from August 2010)

*The post and recipe for these Congo Bars was originally published August 24, 2010.  The pictures and post was updated and republished on November 19, 2018.

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Comments

  9. I like them underbaked too, just a tad…going to copy this recipe now, I love cookie bars! 1 lb of brown sugar, how can you go wrong?!?

    Reply

  31. Oh how I LOVE the Congo bar!!! Thanks for reminding me of my wonderful memories, all including the deliciousness.. and for sharing the recipe. I don’t know where mine could possibly be!

    Reply

  33. Your bars look delicious! I will be trying them. I’m your newest follower and really enjoy your great blog. You have a wonderful looking family!

    Reply

  35. Ok, one thing I like more than cookies is bars. Brownies, blondies and anything in between! These look and sound fantastic. I’m soo glad you linked these up at Foodie Friday!

    Reply

  37. I’m always on the search for a perfect blondie recipe, I’ll give these a try. They look yummy! (I’ll add a few butterscotch chips I have in with the chocolate chips.)

    Reply

  38. These are in the oven now…. Can’t wait to try them! Luckily some made it in the oven… The batter was so delicious!

    Reply

  41. I just make these earlier and let me tell you………AWESOME!!!! This recipe is a KEEPER! I think I might thow in some pecans the next time just to see how the combination of chocolate and pecans will be. I’m sure it will be just as delicious as this above recipe. Definitely give this recipe a try! Think you will agree that it’s a keeper!

    Reply

  42. I grew up eating almost this exact same recipe made by my maternal grandmother. She called them Congo Squares. And the recipe does say to slightly underbake “they will seem not done, but they are.” These ARE absolutely divine. If you haven’t made a pan full, do so. You won’t be sorry!

    Reply

  43. I just made these today and they did not come out chewy or underbaked at all! 🙁 I baked them for 30 minutes as advised…but they probably would’ve done better at about 20-25 minutes to come out with the same consistency I think!

    Reply

  45. These look amazing! Has anyone tried them without the chocolate chips? My daughter can’t have chocolate, but she loves plain blondies and haven’t found a recipe that we like!

    Reply

    • I have never made them without chocolate chips, but I’m sure the plain blondie would be good. You could also substitute any candy she can eat. Can she have white chocolate chips or butterscotch chips?

      Reply

  46. This recipe came out horrible .. Either you gave the wrong ingredients or wrong cooking time , it came out like a hard cake !!!! Ruined my dinner!!!

    Reply

    • I am so sorry that these didn’t turn out for you, but the recipe is correct. I have had quite a few comments saying how delicious these were, so I know the recipe is ok. All ovens bake differently, so yours might run hotter causing the bars to bake faster.

      Reply

      • Oh my goodness I couldn’t stop eating the batter lol! Please let me know what you think. Mine are fresh out of the oven and I want to dig into them so bad but I can’t. Have to save them for dinner later!

        Reply

  51. I made these, but I substituted salted caramel chips instead of “just plain ol’ chocolate chips”. OMG! A-MAAAA-zing 🙂

    Reply

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