How to make… Cookie tray bake
These cookie bars have suddenly become one of my new favourite things to bake. Of course, there is the amazing flavour; and who can say no to chocolate chips? But the main reason I love these little bites of heaven is that it takes such a short amount of time to make them.
Have you ever invited family and friends over for dinner, only to realise at the last minute that you forgot to buy a dessert, or that the deliciously sweet treat you ate last night while binge watching a box set was, in fact, the dessert your partner had bought to feed your guests? Oops! What do you do now?
Well, you need something tasty, but it must be quick and easy. So, you certainly cannot run up the road for a pie and some ice cream and leave your guests on their own, so, what is there?
Here is the answer…cookies.
Under normal circumstances, cookies wouldn’t be the first thing to think of. Because many bakers know that most truly successful cookies are those that have had the dough refrigerated for at least 2 hours to cool and firm up so they don’t spread everywhere on the tray while in the oven; lest you get what look like flat, and potentially burnt, tough, pancakes.
This recipe however doesn’t require a fridge. You can skip that part out completely. You simply mix everything together, put it on a tray while still at room temperature and bake to your heart’s content. Go back to your friends and 20 -25 minutes later you’ve got a big slab of warm cookie. You can slice them to any size you like; little slices for the kids and not-so-small for the “older kids.” (Well, that’s what I’m sometimes called.)
My version of this recipe calls for white chocolate chips and cranberries, but don’t feel that you must stick to that. You could instead use semi-sweet chocolate chips or butterscotch chips; peanuts, pecan nuts, sunflower seeds or another type of dry fruit. You could even go crazy and add M&M’s or small pieces of candy.
I hope that you decide to try this recipe. I guarantee you won’t regret it. Scroll down for a free, printable recipe card, and a link to my video on YouTube showing them being made on the same day my parents arrived early for dinner.
Ingredients
| 2¼ | cups | plain flour | Plus a little extra for dusting the chips and fruit. |
| 1 | tsp | baking soda | Also called bicarbonate of soda |
| 1 | tsp | salt | |
| ¾ | cup | granulated sugar | |
| ¾ | cup | soft brown sugar | |
| 1 | cup | baking block, softened | (approx. 250g) You can also use butter or margarine |
| 1 | tsp | vanilla extract | |
| 2 | eggs | ||
| 2 | cups | white chocolate chips | Or your chocolate of choice |
| 1 | cup | dried cranberries |
Preparation
- Prep your ingredients.
- Pre-heat the oven to 190C / 350F and butter your 10×15″ jelly roll baking tray.
- Combine flour, baking soda and salt into a bowl and set aside.
- In another bowl, beat the baking block, granulated sugar, soft brown sugar, and vanilla extract until creamy.
- Add the eggs and beat together.
- Combine with the flour mixture.
- Lightly dust the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries with flour, add to the mixture and combine.
- Spread the mixture evenly in the baking tray.
- Put into the oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before slicing.
Watch us make it
Check out our YouTube video below to see how I make my cookie tray bake, and don’t forget to like, and subscribe to our channel while you’re there.
What about you?
Have you ever been caught without a dessert when friends or family popped around? Download our free recipe card and add this recipe to your family’s repertoire, too.
And, if you do make it, share it with us using #cookies and tagging @parkerlings on your social media. If you have any questions, just ask, using the form below, and don’t forget to comment and tell us how your family changes it up. We’d love to hear your ingredient ideas.
