I was so excited when Enjoy Life came out with their new line of chocolate bars, I literally jumped for joy. I was already a huge fan of their chocolate chips, and now they’ve given me a whole new genre of chocolate to bake with. These chocolate chunk cookie bars are an old-fashioned picnic or school function favorite. So easy and yet sooooo good!

　　

Ingredients

makes 16 bars

　　2 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons Basic Gluten-Free Flour Mix (page 19)

　　1/2 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum

　　1 1/2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder

　　1/4 teaspoon salt

　　3/4 cup dairy-free, soy-free vegetable shortening

　　3/4 cup granulated sugar

　　1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons firmly packed light brown sugar

　　2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

　　1 1/2 teaspoons Ener-G egg replacer mixed with 2 tablespoons rice milk

　　1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon rice milk

　　6 ounces (about 4 bars) Enjoy Life Rice Milk bars or Dark Chocolate Boom Choco Boom bars, chopped into centimeter-size chunks

　　

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 by 9-inch pan.

　　

Step 2

Whisk together the flour mix, xanthan gum, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

　　

Step 3

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the shortening, granulated sugar, and brown sugar, beating on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

　　

Step 4

Add the vanilla and egg replacer and mix for 20 seconds.

　　

Step 5

Add the flour mix in three batches, mixing on low speed, alternating with the rice milk, and beginning and ending with the flour mix.

　　

Step 6

Fold in the chocolate chunks.

　　

Step 7

Spread the batter evenly across the bottom of the baking pan.

　　

Step 8

Bake in the center of the oven for 35 minutes, or until lightly golden, rotating the pan halfway through.

　　

Step 9

Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan on a cooling rack for about 15 minutes. Cut into 16 squares. Let cool.

　　Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook