Hershey’s Chocolate Bar Cookies: A Decadent Delight
Craving a cookie that’s a step above the ordinary? Look no further! These Hershey’s Chocolate Bar Cookies are a chocolate lover’s dream. Imagine biting into a soft, chewy cookie studded with chunks of creamy, melt-in-your-mouth Hershey’s chocolate. This isn’t just any cookie; it’s an experience. This recipe takes the classic chocolate chip cookie and elevates it with the iconic flavor and texture of Hershey’s chocolate bars. The best part? It’s surprisingly simple to make, even for novice bakers. Get ready to impress your friends and family with these irresistible treats!
## Why Hershey’s Chocolate Bars Work So Well
While chocolate chips are a classic cookie addition, using Hershey’s chocolate bars provides a unique and satisfying experience for a few reasons:
* **Melting:** Hershey’s bars melt beautifully in the oven, creating pockets of gooey, delicious chocolate throughout the cookie. Chocolate chips tend to hold their shape better, offering a different texture.
* **Flavor:** The distinctive taste of Hershey’s chocolate is instantly recognizable and adds a nostalgic, comforting element to these cookies.
* **Texture:** Chopping the chocolate bars into various sizes allows for a delightful mix of textures – small shards that melt into the dough and larger chunks that provide a satisfying bite.
* **Visual Appeal:** Chunks of Hershey’s chocolate peeking out of the golden-brown cookie dough are incredibly tempting and visually appealing.
## The Ultimate Hershey’s Chocolate Bar Cookie Recipe
This recipe is designed to be easy to follow and yields cookies that are soft, chewy, and bursting with Hershey’s chocolate goodness. Feel free to adapt it to your preferences by adding nuts, sea salt, or other mix-ins. Let’s get baking!
**Yields:** Approximately 24 cookies
**Prep Time:** 20 minutes
**Chill Time:** 30 minutes (optional, but recommended)
**Bake Time:** 9-11 minutes
**Ingredients:**
* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
* ¾ cup granulated sugar
* ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 2 (1.45 ounce) Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars, chopped into chunks
* Optional: Flaky sea salt for sprinkling
**Equipment:**
* Mixing bowls
* Electric mixer (stand or hand-held)
* Measuring cups and spoons
* Baking sheets
* Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
* Wire rack
**Instructions:**
**1. Cream the Butter and Sugars:**
* In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. This usually takes 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally to ensure everything is evenly incorporated. The mixture should be pale and airy.
**2. Add Eggs and Vanilla:**
* Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and mix until combined. Don’t overmix at this stage, as it can lead to tough cookies.
**3. Combine Dry Ingredients:**
* In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisking ensures that the baking soda and salt are evenly distributed throughout the flour, which is important for the cookies to rise properly and have a consistent flavor.
**4. Gradually Add Dry Ingredients to Wet Ingredients:**
* Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough cookies. Mix until the flour is almost completely incorporated, leaving a few streaks of flour visible.
**5. Fold in Hershey’s Chocolate Chunks:**
* Gently fold in the chopped Hershey’s chocolate bars until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough. Use a spatula or wooden spoon for this step, and be careful not to overmix. You want to keep the chocolate chunks intact as much as possible.
**6. Chill the Dough (Optional but Recommended):**
* Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours. Chilling the dough helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking, resulting in thicker, chewier cookies. It also allows the flavors to meld together.
**7. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets:**
* Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. This prevents the cookies from sticking to the baking sheets and makes cleanup easier.
**8. Scoop and Arrange Dough:**
* Use a cookie scoop or spoon to drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. If you want perfectly uniform cookies, use a kitchen scale to weigh each portion of dough.
**9. Bake the Cookies:**
* Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are still slightly soft. The cookies will continue to bake slightly after you remove them from the oven, so don’t overbake them. For even baking, rotate the baking sheets halfway through the baking time.
**10. Cool and Enjoy:**
* Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if desired. Enjoy these delicious Hershey’s Chocolate Bar Cookies while they’re still warm and gooey!
## Tips for Perfect Hershey’s Chocolate Bar Cookies
* **Use Softened Butter:** Make sure your butter is softened to room temperature before creaming it with the sugars. This will help create a light and airy batter.
* **Don’t Overmix:** Overmixing the dough develops the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough cookies. Mix until the ingredients are just combined.
* **Chill the Dough:** Chilling the dough helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking. If you’re short on time, you can skip this step, but the cookies may be a bit thinner.
* **Use Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mats:** This prevents the cookies from sticking to the baking sheets and makes cleanup easier.
* **Don’t Overbake:** Overbaked cookies will be dry and crumbly. Bake until the edges are golden brown and the centers are still slightly soft.
* **Experiment with Flavors:** Add chopped nuts, pretzels, or other mix-ins to customize your cookies.
* **Storage:** Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
## Variations and Adaptations
This recipe is a great starting point, but feel free to experiment with different flavors and mix-ins to create your own signature Hershey’s Chocolate Bar Cookies.
* **Peanut Butter Cup Cookies:** Add chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups to the dough for a peanut butter and chocolate explosion.
* **Cookies ‘n’ Cream Cookies:** Use Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme bars instead of milk chocolate bars for a cookies ‘n’ cream flavor.
* **Salted Caramel Cookies:** Add caramel bits and a sprinkle of sea salt to the dough for a sweet and salty treat.
* **Double Chocolate Cookies:** Add cocoa powder to the dough for an even more intense chocolate flavor.
* **Nutty Chocolate Cookies:** Add chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds to the dough for a nutty crunch.
* **White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies:** Substitute Hershey’s white chocolate bars and macadamia nuts for a twist on the classic combination.
* **Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Cookies:** Use Hershey’s Special Dark chocolate bars and sprinkle with sea salt for a sophisticated flavor.
## Troubleshooting Your Cookies
* **Cookies are spreading too thin:** This could be due to not chilling the dough, using too much butter, or using butter that is too soft. Try chilling the dough for longer, reducing the amount of butter slightly, or making sure the butter is softened but not melted.
* **Cookies are too dry:** This could be due to overbaking, using too much flour, or not enough butter or sugar. Try reducing the baking time, using less flour, or adding a bit more butter or sugar.
* **Cookies are too hard:** This could be due to overmixing the dough or overbaking the cookies. Be careful not to overmix the dough, and bake the cookies until the edges are golden brown and the centers are still slightly soft.
* **Cookies are not rising:** This could be due to using old baking soda or not creaming the butter and sugar properly. Make sure your baking soda is fresh, and cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
## Serving Suggestions
These Hershey’s Chocolate Bar Cookies are delicious on their own, but they’re even better when paired with:
* A cold glass of milk
* A scoop of vanilla ice cream
* A warm cup of coffee or tea
* A drizzle of melted chocolate
They’re also perfect for:
* Holiday gatherings
* Birthday parties
* Cookie exchanges
* A sweet treat after dinner
## Hershey’s Chocolate Bar Cookies: A Family Favorite
These Hershey’s Chocolate Bar Cookies are more than just a recipe; they’re a way to create memories with your loved ones. Whether you’re baking them for a special occasion or just because, these cookies are sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to bake a batch of these irresistible treats. Happy baking!
## The History of Hershey’s Chocolate
No discussion about Hershey’s chocolate bar cookies would be complete without a nod to the history of the iconic chocolate bar itself. Milton Hershey, the founder of The Hershey Company, initially started his career in the candy business with caramel. However, after witnessing the potential of chocolate-making equipment at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, he was inspired to pursue chocolate production. In 1900, he sold his successful caramel business for $1 million (a considerable fortune at the time) to focus solely on chocolate. Hershey believed that everyone should have access to affordable chocolate, and his vision led to the mass production of milk chocolate bars, making them a staple in American households. The Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar, introduced in 1900, quickly became a symbol of American chocolate and remains a beloved treat to this day. Its distinctive flavor and creamy texture have made it a favorite for generations, and its versatility extends beyond simple snacking to baking, as showcased in this delightful cookie recipe.
The enduring popularity of Hershey’s chocolate is a testament to Milton Hershey’s commitment to quality and accessibility. These Hershey’s chocolate bar cookies are a celebration of that legacy, transforming a classic treat into a truly special dessert.
## Nutritional Information (Approximate, per cookie)
* Calories: 150-180
* Fat: 8-10g
* Saturated Fat: 5-6g
* Cholesterol: 30-40mg
* Sodium: 80-100mg
* Carbohydrates: 18-22g
* Sugar: 12-15g
* Protein: 1-2g
*Note: Nutritional information is approximate and can vary depending on specific ingredients and portion sizes.*
Enjoy making and sharing these Hershey’s Chocolate Bar Cookies!