February 22nd marks the 1st anniversary of my blog (AKA blog-iversary)!
There I was, in the middle of the winter of 2013, wearing sweat pants, and soon to be turning another thirty “something.” I needed a change and I wanted an outlet to connect better with my family. Was starting a blog my answer? (See my answer below.) I can’t even begin to tell you how much I’ve learned about myself, the blogging world, photography, and so many other things along the way. I’ve met so many wonderful people and made many great friends along the way. Honestly, the history of Tina’s Chic Corner really needs a blog post all by itself so stay tuned! 😉
Let’s jump right into the celebration and mark this awesome occasion with, what else, cookies! I created these cookie bars a couple of months ago, but they are the best recipe I’ve invented so far and I wanted to save them especially for today.
These chocolate chip cookie bars are infused with lovely coffee flavors, coated with a sweet chocolate frosting, and drizzled with a coffee flavored icing on top.
Coffee Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Recipe
(Makes 32 servings)
Ingredients for Coffee Chocolate Chip Bars:
- 2 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee
- 1 tablespoon hot water
- 3/4 cup (equivalent to 1 and 1/2 sticks) butter
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 and 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Ingredients for Chocolate Frosting:
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon skim milk
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Ingredients for Coffee Icing:
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee
- 1 tablespoon hot water
- 1/4 powdered sugar
Directions for Coffee Chocolate Chip Bars:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a 9 x 13 baking pan with tin foil, grease it, and set it aside.
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside the dry ingredients.
- Mix the instant coffee and hot water together and set it aside.
- Cream the butter, white sugar, and light brown sugar.
- Mix in the vanilla extract, eggs, and coffee mixture.
- Gradually mix in the dry ingredients.
- Mix in the chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake it in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes or until a tester inserted comes out clean.
- Let the cookie bar rest in the pan until completely cooled.
- Spread the chocolate frosting on top.
- Drizzle the coffee icing on top.
Directions for the Chocolate Frosting:
- Melt the chocolate chips and butter until the mixture is smooth.
- Stir in the vanilla extract, salt, milk, and powdered sugar until it’s the texture of frosting. Note that the frosting will be warm at this point and it will set over time. It’s easiest to spread the frosting onto the bars when it’s warm or room temperature.
Directions for the Coffee Icing:
- Mix the instant coffee and hot water together. Let it sit for a few minutes until the coffee grounds have dissolved.
- Stir in the powdered sugar until it’s smooth and combined. (It will be much thinner than the frosting.)
Store in an air tight container at room temperature.
Let’s start this party with the cookie bar. It’s just like making chocolate chip cookies (with a touch of mocha) but better because it’s faster. You’re basically making one giant cookie. Oh yeah!
The chocolate frosting is so simple to whip up. Can you see the chocolate chip cookie bar in the background anxiously waiting to be covered with some sweet decadent chocolate? Make sure the cookie bar has completely cooled before you add the frosting otherwise the frosting will just run away from the cookie and that’s no fun.
I could drink this coffee icing straight up like a martini. The consistency should be thinner than the chocolate frosting in order to drizzle it on top of the chocolate frosting.
Pow! Coffee chocolate chip cookie bars! If you love coffee and chocolate then you are totally set with this gorgeous creation.
The cookie bar is soft and slightly chewy. It pretty much melts in your mouth. 😉
You can definitely taste the coffee in the bars. You know how some recipes claim that the coffee ingredient is merely an essence and you can’t taste it? That’s NOT the case here. Chocolate. Check. Coffee. Check. In fact, my husband is super sensitive to caffeine and wouldn’t even try them because he knew how much coffee went into them. Next time I make them I’ll use decaf instant coffee so he can enjoy them too.
Chocolate and coffee are two of my favorite things so combining them makes a perfect way to celebrate one year of Tina’s Chic Corner.
So was starting my blog the answers to what I was looking for? The short answer is… yes, for now. I’ll definitely expand upon that next week, but for now, let’s simply enjoy some awesome eats. 🙂
The chocolate frosting… well, it’s probably exactly what you’re thinking… sweet chocolate bliss. 🙂
The coffee icing is crazy amazing. It just adds more wonderful coffee flavor to every bit. Not to mention the fact that the drizzle makes them look so pretty. I sure do love things that are both delicious and earn me style points!
I’m so grateful for everyone who has supported me in the past year (especially my husband) and for those who take the time to stop by my blog and share my experiences with me. Thank you, thank you, thank you! 🙂
Source: Tina’s Chic Corner
Here are some of my favorite recipes over the past year.
Congrats on one year!! Can’t think of a better celebration dessert!! These look delicious!
Thanks so much!! 🙂
Cookie Bars are one of my favorite desserts and I love this version. So exciting that your blog is about to have it’s first birthday – how awesome is that? Happy Blogoversary!!
Thank you so much! 🙂
Happy 1 year blogiversary! What a great opportunity and boy does time fly! Looking forward to reading many more years of delicious recipes such as this coffee chocolate chip brownie. That would go perfectly with my cup of tea.
You are so sweet! Thank you so much! 🙂
Happy Birthday to Tina’s Chic Corner! Congrats Tina! So happy to be along with you on your blogging journey!
And, you can never go wrong with celebrating with cookie bars!
Thanks so much Chris! I’m thrilled that you want to share my experiences with me and I truly appreciate it. 🙂
Congrats on one year lady!! And seriously, what a great way to celebrate. Between the cookie base, chocolate frosting and coffee icing … these sound outrageously good. I love coffee flavored anything … especially when the flavor is really there. And these are just pretty too – I do love me some pretty desserts : )
Thanks so much Ashley! 🙂
Happy Blogiversary !!
These look fantastic 🙂
Thank you so much! 🙂
I’m so excited for you, Tina!! I’m right behind you, girlfriend! (Mine’s next week …on my 40th bday!) I’m loving these fun bars… so pretty, too!
I love that we’re celebrating our blog-iversaries together! 🙂
And we’re both pisces sign… my birthday is at the end of Feburary. 🙂
they look delicious!
Thank you! 🙂
Coffee AND chocolate chip cookies? It’s all of my favorite things!
Oh yay! Me too. 🙂
Happy 1 year T!!!! You’re like my blogs cool older sister (albeit by 2 days ;))! And what a way to celebrate. Looking forward to hearing we you have in store later this week!
Thanks Davida! I love that we’re celebrating our respective one year blog anniversaries together (sort of…good enough to me 😉 )! 🙂
Statistics say that 9 out of 10 bloggers quit in a year, so getting through the first 365 days really is the toughest part! Congrats girl! I’m so happy you started your blog and kept at it, otherwise I wouldn’t have ever seen many of these tasty treats!
Oh man these bars. I want. All.
Wow, interesting statistic! Thank you so much for your kind words! It means the world to me!! I truly appreciate all the support you give me. 🙂
Congrats on the anniversary dear!!!
This cake looks like the most perfect way to celebrate it. It sounds absolutey scrumptious and I believe you when you say it’s the best one you’ve made by far, because it seems terrific. I love how you can taste the coffee, because I think it tastes great with chocolate 😀
Thank you so much, my friend! I appreciate all of the support you’ve given me along the way. 🙂
Happy belated blogiversary!! These bars are perfect for the celebration 🙂 Nothing beats chocolate and coffee!!
Thanks! 🙂
Congrats on one year! I’ve been at it nearly a year and a half and I never stop learning new things, meeting new people, growing in my skills…..I love it!! Thanks so much for joining us each week at SNF, Tina! 🙂
Thank you so much! 🙂
Ahh! You had me at coffee! These bars looks so delicious, and I’m pretty sure I could finish off the whole tray all on my own. Pinned!
Thank you so much! These bars are pretty much one of my favorite things on earth right now. If you love coffee then I know you’ll love these. 🙂