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Chocolate Chip Shortbread Bars for #SundaySupper

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Chocolate Chip Shortbread Bars | Magnolia Days

The music grabs your attention. It is a familiar song played throughout the holiday season. It brings a smile as the memories associated with it fill your mind. The song could be one from a play you were in as a child. It could be one your family sings on Christmas morning. One of your favorite movies may have it in the soundtrack. White Christmas is one of those songs for me. It relates to many different things including my favorite holiday movie, Love Actually. To celebrate holiday music, movies, and television I baked chocolate chip shortbread bars inspired from the movie.

How did the movie inspire my baking? The movie takes place in London and one of the characters is the British Prime Minister. The British commonly serve tea and biscuits in the afternoon. The biscuits served include shortbread. In Love Actually, the prime minister prefers chocolate ones. That is what gave me the inspiration to make chocolate chip shortbread bars. I used holiday chocolate covered candies instead of chips to make them more festive.

Chocolate Chip Shortbread Bars | Magnolia Days

Some notes on the bars: They are buttery, chocolate-y, and have a crumbly texture. Be sure not to over bake them or they will be too dry and fall apart. I recommend taking them out of the oven as soon as the edges are light golden brown. You can drizzle them with the chocolate glaze prior to cutting. I like the look of the glaze spilling over the sides so I drizzled them after cutting.

Chocolate Chip Shortbread Bars | Magnolia Days

What is your favorite holiday song, movie, or TV show? Has it inspired you to cook or bake something? Sunday Supper contributors certainly have been inspired and you can see what they are sharing below. Scroll down to find the list and links to each of the recipes. Special thanks to Tammi of Momma’s Meals for hosting this fun event. Oh, and take a look at my shortbread cookies in case you prefer cookies instead of bars.

Chocolate Chip Shortbread Bars | Magnolia Days
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Chocolate Chip Shortbread Bars

A recipe for chocolate chip shortbread bars. The bars are buttery and filled with either chocolate chips or chocolate coated candy. They are a great treat for any time of the day.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Author Renee

Ingredients

For the shortbread:

  • 2 cups unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 3/4 cups chocolate chips or candy coated chocolates, divided

For the optional chocolate glaze

  • 1 cup confectioners sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

For the shortbread:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Cream butter, sugar, and brown sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
  3. Add vanilla and beat to combine.
  4. Whisk together flour and salt. Add to the creamed mixture and mix only until blended.
  5. Stir in pecans and 1 1/4 cups chocolate chips.
  6. Press dough evenly into a 17- X 13- X 1-inch sheet pan.
  7. Sprinkle top with remaining 1/2 cup chips. Slightly press chips into dough.
  8. Bake 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Be careful not to over-bake.
  9. Cool shortbread completely in the pan.
  10. Once cooled, cut into bars approximately 1- X 3-inches in size. Drizzle with chocolate glaze if desired.

For the optional chocolate glaze:

  1. Sift the confectioners sugar and cocoa and place in a small bowl.
  2. Add the salt, vanilla, and milk. Stir until smooth.
  3. Place glaze in a plastic zip-top bag and close bag removing all air. Snip a tiny piece off one corner of the bag. Squeeze the bag to drizzle the glaze on the shortbread.

Recipe Notes

*Time does not include cooling shortbread.

Recipe adapted from one in a small recipe booklet by Mars, Inc. that I got in the late 80’s or early 90’s.

Ready for some holiday recipes? Take a look at these by Sunday Supper contributors inspired from the season’s music, movies, and television:

Party Appetizers & Snacks:

Festive Main Dishes

Sweet Holiday Treats:

Cozy Drinks:

This is Christmas; Wine Pairings for Holiday Themed #SundaySupper Recipes – ENOFYLZ Wine Blog

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET and you do not want to miss out on the fun. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.

Sunday Supper LogoWould you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? Click here: Sunday Supper Movement

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Comments

  2. Liz says

    We were on the same wave length today with our chocolate chip recipes. I love how you used festive M&M’s in your bars…perfect for the season!

    Reply

  3. Family Foodie says

    Mmmm…. I would love one of these bars with a cup of coffee this morning. Merry Christmas my friend! I can not tell you how thankful I am that you are part of my life. Thank you for all that you do!

    Reply

  11. Susan says

    I love Love Actually! I just watched it a few weeks ago when I saw it was on Netflix. I think you shortbread could get Hugh Grant (I’m talking 90’s Hugh, not Hugh today) to fall in love with you. 🙂

    Reply

  12. Martin D Redmond says

    We get an amazing amount of food snacks from our customers and vendors this time of year. The day I was sampling some shortbread that was OK and thought it would be waaaaay better with chocolate….and now I see your recipe! It looks fabulous! Wish I had one or three now! Happy Holidays to you and your Renee!

    Reply

  13. Katy says

    I love how cheery and festive these bars are, and such a good twist on a traditional chocolate biscuit! Your line about the British serving tea and biscuits in the afternoon is absolutely true. Workers would strike and our country would fall if we did not. And what on earth would we serve to visitors?!

    Reply

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