Best Congo Bar

Name: Best Congo Bar Recipe - Chewy Chocolate Walnut Bars
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 24 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups flour; 2 1/2 tsp Baking powder; 1/2 tsp salt; 2/3 cup butter; 2 cups light brown sugar; 3 eggs, beaten; 1 tsp vanilla; 1/2 cup walnuts chopped (optional); 1 10 oz bag chocolate chunks

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Congo bars are a soft, goey chocolate and walnut cookie bar with a rich brown sugar base, baked until golden brown and best served warm or cooled for extra chewiness.

🌍American 🏷️Dessert recipes 🏷️Shopping

Total

45 min

Servings

24

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From Familyfocusblog · by Scarlet

Ingredients

9 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2
Grease 13" x 9" pan using butter.
3
In a large mixing bowl, mix butter and light brown sugar until fully blended and smooth. Add in the vanilla, and eggs and blend until smooth.
4
Place a sifter into a separate bowl, and add flour, baking powder and salt. Mix and sift the dry ingredients into the bowl.
5
Gradually stir in dry ingredients to wet. Mixture will be fairly thick.
6
Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts (if using) and then scoop into greased baking dish.
7
Bake for 30-35 mins until golden brown.
8
Cool for 15 minutes and then you can slice and serve warm or allow to cool even more for a little firmer congo bar.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Cream butter and brown sugar thoroughly until smooth and light before adding eggs; this incorporates air for a softer crumb.
Sift dry ingredients together for even distribution of baking powder and salt; mix gently into wet ingredients to avoid overworking the batter.
Check doneness at 30 minutes; bars are ready when golden brown on top but still slightly soft in the center—they'll set more as they cool.
Cool for 15 minutes before slicing for cleaner cuts; allow to cool completely for firmer bars that are easier to handle.

Substitutions

Light brown sugar → dark brown sugar (flavor will be deeper and more molasses-forward)
Walnuts → pecans or omit entirely (walnuts are listed as optional)
Chocolate chunks → chocolate chips or chopped chocolate (same amount)

Storage & make-ahead

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months; reheat in a 300°F oven for 5-10 minutes to restore chewiness.

Equipment

13" x 9" baking pan · sifter

Common Questions

Can I make congo bars without walnuts?

Yes, walnuts are optional. Omit them or substitute with chopped pecans or leave the bars plain for a chocolate-forward treat.

Why are my congo bars too cakey?

Overbaking dries them out. Bake for 30-35 minutes until just golden brown; they'll firm up as they cool. They should still be slightly soft in the center when removed from the oven.