Congo Bars are a classic, old-fashioned blondie-style bar—rich, chewy, buttery, and loaded with chocolate chips and nuts. They’re simple, nostalgic, and incredibly good. 🍫✨
Classic Congo Bars Recipe
Ingredients (9×13 pan)
- ¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1¾ cups brown sugar (light or dark)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1½–2 cups chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional but traditional)
Instructions
1. Prep
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Mix
- In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and brown sugar until smooth.
- Beat in eggs and vanilla.
- Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt just until combined.
- Fold in chocolate chips and nuts.
3. Bake
- Spread batter evenly in prepared pan.
- Bake 22–28 minutes, until edges are golden and center is set but still soft.
4. Cool & Serve
- Cool completely before cutting into bars for clean slices.
- Serve plain or with a glass of milk.
Tips for Perfect Congo Bars
- Don’t overbake—slightly underbaked = chewy center
- Dark brown sugar gives deeper caramel flavor
- Line pan for easy lifting and slicing
Variations
- No nuts: Just chocolate chips
- Peanut butter swirl: Add dollops before baking
- Butterscotch chips: Replace half the chocolate chips
- Sprinkle sea salt on top before baking for a modern twist
Bottom Line
Congo Bars are the brownie’s blond cousin—simple, comforting, and perfect for potlucks, bake sales, or late-night cravings.
If you want, I can also share a small-batch version, a pantry-only recipe, or a 1960s vintage Congo Bar recipe.
