Mother Lode Layered Cookie Bars

At 8 o’clock last Thursday night, number two son and I decided that we were going to take lunch to my dad the following day. I didn’t have to make it, we were going to drive through a local burger joint and grab some cheeseburgers and fries. Dad rarely eats fast food, so for him this is quite a treat. But, I never visit my dad without taking goodies, so I knew that I had to put something together. Considering the advanced hour, I probably should have opted for something easier, but no.

I had been saving this recipe to try just for a “visit dad” occasion. These Mother Lode Layered Cookie Bars intrigued me with all of the different layers, and all of the different tastes. I should have listened to my son when he looked at the recipe, then up at me, and said, “Why don’t you just make a couple of different kinds of cookies to take, it seems that would be much easier. Do you realize,“ he went on, “that you’re making four different cookies here?” In theory, I think I did realize that, but it still didn’t stop me; what a night that was!

While the first layer is a roll of sugar cookies, I think it took me as long to slice it, lay slices in the bottom of the pan, and figure a way to get them evenly spread, as it would have been to actually make sugar cookies. Sigh. It did help to cover them with a piece of plastic wrap, and then gently tap them flat with a tart tamper. The same held true for the various other doughs. 

This is an interesting cookie, with a variety of tastes, and an almost brownie-like texture. I loved the addition of the chocolate chips, and loved the chocolate chip cookie layer, but ultimately, could have done without the peanut butter layer, that really didn’t provide all that much flavor. I think if I ever make these again (heaven help me!), I would actually make peanut butter cookie dough for that layer.

What I’m saying here is that these are a lot of work! But they are good, and they’re probably different from other things your family and friends have had. We all enjoyed them.

Oh, one more thing. Because I had some melted chocolate left, I decided to dip a couple of cookies in the chocolate to see how they would taste. Oh, mamma, THESE are Mother Lode for sure!

Mother Lode Layered Cookie Bars

Adapted for clarity from Picky Palate

Layer 1: Sugar Cookie

1 Roll of Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Press sugar cookie dough into bottom of a 9”x13” baking pan that's been lined with foil and sprayed with cooking spray.

Layer 2: Double Chocolate Chip Cookie*

1 cup butter

1 cup white sugar

¾ cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1¾ cups flour

1 ¼ cups cocoa powder

2 tsps. baking soda

¼ tsp. salt

1 ½ cups chocolate chips

Layer:  In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Slowly add eggs and vanilla until well combined.

In another bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add to wet ingredients then stir in chips. Layer over sugar cookie layer, pressing gently.

Layer 3: Peanut Butter Cookie

1 cup creamy peanut butter

½ c. granulated sugar

1 egg

Place all ingredients into a bowl and mix until combined.  Layer over chocolate cookie dough.

Layer 4:  Chocolate Chip Cookie*

2 sticks softened butter

¾ c. granulated sugar

¾ c. brown sugar

2 eggs

1 Tablespoon pure vanilla

2½ c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

1 12-oz. bag chocolate chips

In a stand or electric mixer cream the butter and sugars until well combined.  Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined.  Place flour, baking soda and salt into a large bowl; mix to combine.  Slowly add to wet ingredients along with chocolate chips.  Spoon dough evenly over peanut butter cookie dough but don't press, just leave uneven.  Bake for 35-45 minutes or until center of dough is cooked mostly through.  Edges will be brown.  I covered pan with foil during the last 15 minutes of baking.

Let cookies cool completely.  Lift out of pan with edges of foil.  I cut off ½” edges and just used softer centers, but do as you wish.  Edges are crispier.  Drizzle top with ½ cup melted chocolate chips if desired.

*This recipe makes more dough than you will probably need for the bars. Save any extra for baking as cookies.

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A sinfully good (and a bit easier) bar cookie is Salted Caramel Chocolate Shortbread Bars.

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