Chocolate Chip Halfway Cookies

By MarieR

Linda's story: "These are a treasured treat in my family going back to the 1030s, when my grandmother would bake them for my father. Now in his 80s, he still eagerly awaits a fresh batch.

Ingredients

• For bars:
• MAKES 24
• 1 cup softened butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 2 egg yolks [slightly beaten with 1 tbsp water)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups sifted flour
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 (12-oz) package semisweet chocolate chips
• For topping:
• 2 egg whites
• 1 cup light brown sugar

Details

Adapted from AJC December 2012

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a large mixing bowl, with an electric mixer on high speed, beat butter until creamy. Add sugars and beat well. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla extract.
3. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Dough will be stiff.
4. Press dough flat onto a greased 10-by-14-inch baking sheet, cover with chocolate chips, and bake for 10 minutes.
5. Reduce oven heat to 325°F. Make meringue topping: Beat egg whites until very stiff; add brown sugar and beat well.
6. Spread meringue across top of dough [don't spread all the way to edges).
7. Return to oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until meringue is very light brown and dough is set.
8. Let cool; cut into bars.