Three-Layer Cookie Bars

[betsytheripper]

These are truly decadent. I could only eat half of the slice pictured! But with a layer of shortbread, a layer of peanut butter cookie, and then chocolate chip cookie on top, how can you resist?

Inspired by the theme, I just kind of threw together three cookie recipes that I've collected. The shortbread base gives an almost savory element to balance out how sweet the chocolate chip cookie layer is, and the peanut butter is a nice medium that is sweet, but not too sweet. All the recipes follow, and I hope you enjoy this as much as I do! (Hint: this would be excellent warm with a little vanilla ice cream. Just sayin'.)

Three-Layer Cookie Bars

• 1 recipe shortbread (below)
• 1 recipe flourless peanut butter cookies (below)
• 1 recipe chocolate chip cookies (below)
• Chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate)

• Preheat the oven to 350F, and line a 9x13 pan with foil, with extra over the edges. (Trust me, use 9x13! I used an 8x8, and it kind of muffin-topped, and made each piece a little unwieldy.)
• Make your shortbread recipe, and pat into the bottom of the pan, as even as possible. Refrigerate pan.
• Make the peanut butter cookie dough. Pat into the pan on top of the shortbread, making it as even as possible. Put a sprinkling of chocolate chips on top, and gently tap down into the dough. Refrigerate pan.
• Make the chocolate chip cookie dough, and pat into the pan. Press more chocolate chips into the top.
• Bake for 40-60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out mostly clean. It takes quite some time, but I would start checking at 30.

Things I would Change Next Time

• I would place a layer of chocolate chips between the shortbread and peanut butter. The bottom half just needed a little more something to it.
• Definitely use my 9x13 instead of the 8x8! I used the 8x8 because I was lazy and didn't want to dig out the 9x13, but really get that pan out! Way more manageable!

Shortbread
Found on b3 ages ago, and pretty much everything I post here has an adaptation of this recipe. I love it, but couldn't tell you which post exactly it was from now. Possibly imitation Girl Scout cookies. What follows is exactly how I used it this time.

• 1 cup butter, soft
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 cup unbleached AP flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1-1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• about 2 tablespoons milk

Cream the butter and sugar. Mix in the flour, baking powder and salt at a slow speed, followed by the vanilla and enough milk needed to make the dough just come together. It should be soft, but not sticky. (You can make cut-outs, thumbprint cookies, or a base layer from this. Recipe calls for 350F.)

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
Found on the internet somewhere that I could not find again for the life of me (possibly from here? All I know is that I didn't make this recipe up, but I wish I had, it's beautiful), this is the newest addition to my collection. First tested less than a month ago, it's an instant staple in my recipe box. I omitted the 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips called for in the end, and the original recipe doesn't specify crunchy or smooth peanut butter.

• 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (I probably used more like 1-1 1/2 tsp)

Mix all ingredients well. (If actually making cookies, roll into balls, place on baking sheet, smush with fork, bake at 350F 10-13 minutes.)

Chocolate Chip Cookies
The recipe card I have for this was given to me by my aunt when I was eight or so. It's actually laminated. I think it's just the recipe off the chocolate chip bag, but it has served me well.

• 1 1/8 cup unbleached AP flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, soft
• 3 oz. (3/8 cup American) white sugar (I kind of ran out of white sugar after the other two recipes, so I just swapped in with brown sugar.)
• 3 oz. brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (again, I probably used closer to 2 teaspoons - I really like vanilla)
• 1 egg
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Beat butter, sugars and vanilla in a bowl. Add the egg, and mix well. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Once well mixed, fold in the chocolate chips. (This recipe calls for a 375F oven.)