Chocolate Brownie Cookies & Bars

This page brings together seven vintage chocolate favorites — brownie drop cookies, classic brownies, and easy layered bar cookies like Hello Dolly and Congo Bars. They’re the kind of old-fashioned recipes made from pantry staples, perfect for bake sales, potlucks, and holiday trays.

Recipes on this page

• Brownie Drop Cookies
• Hello Dolly Bars
• Brownie with Nuts Cookies
• Rich Chocolate Bars
• Chocolate Brownies
• Congo Bars
• Two Tone Brownies

Brownie Drop Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 bars German sweet chocolate
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup sifted flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease cookie sheets.
2. Melt chocolate and butter over hot water; cool slightly.
3. Beat eggs until foamy. Gradually add sugar and beat about 5 minutes until thick. Blend in chocolate mixture.
4. Stir in flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, vanilla, and pecans.
5. Drop by teaspoons onto cookie sheets and bake 8–10 minutes. Cool slightly before removing.

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Hello Dolly Bars

Ingredients

• 1/4 lb margarine, melted in pan
• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• 1 cup chocolate bits
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Melt margarine in an 8×8-inch pan.
3. Layer graham crumbs, coconut, chocolate bits, and nuts over butter.
4. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over top (do not mix).
5. Bake 35–40 minutes. Cool and dust with confectioners sugar if desired.

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Brownie with Nuts Cookies

Ingredients

• 4 squares unsweetened chocolate (4 oz), melted
• 2/3 cup shortening
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped nuts

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13×9½-inch pan.
2. Melt chocolate and shortening over low heat. Beat in sugar and eggs.
3. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into batter. Fold in nuts.
4. Spread in pan and bake 25–30 minutes until center tests done.
5. Cool, cut into bars, and frost if desired.

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Rich Chocolate Bars

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons cocoa
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 teaspoons Nestlé’s Quick
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1 cup coconut
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts

Icing:

• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 cups confectioners sugar
• 2 tablespoons instant vanilla pudding
• 3 tablespoons milk

Instructions

1. In a double boiler, combine butter, sugar, cocoa, eggs, Nestlé’s Quick, and vanilla. Stir over heat until smooth.
2. Mix graham crumbs, coconut, and nuts; stir into chocolate mixture.
3. Spread into a greased 9×9 or 7×11-inch pan and chill until set.
4. For icing: cream butter, add confectioners sugar and pudding, then milk. Spread over bars.

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Chocolate Brownies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 squares melted chocolate
• 1/2 cup nut meats
• 1/2 cup flour
• Pinch of salt
• Vanilla

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×8-inch pan.
2. Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs.
3. Stir in melted chocolate, flour, salt, vanilla, and nuts.
4. Bake about 30 minutes. Cool and cut into squares.

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Congo Bars

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup melted shortening
• 2 1/4 cups light brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 6 oz package chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13×9-inch pan.
2. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Mix shortening, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla; stir in dry ingredients and chocolate chips.
4. Spread in pan and bake about 30 minutes. Cool and cut into bars.

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Two Tone Brownies

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup sifted flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 1 1/2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease an 8-inch square pan.
2. Cream shortening and sugar; beat in eggs.
3. Stir in flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla, and nuts.
4. Divide batter in half. Mix melted chocolate into one half and spread in pan; top with remaining batter.
5. Bake about 20 minutes. Cool and cut into squares.

Brownie Cookies & Bars FAQ

What’s the difference between brownie cookies and brownie bars?

Brownie cookies are dropped or scooped onto a cookie sheet, while brownie bars are baked in a pan and cut into squares.

Can I swap walnuts/pecans or leave nuts out?

Yes—nuts are optional in most of these recipes. You can omit them or swap walnuts, pecans, or even chocolate chips.

How do I know when brownies are done?

For bars, a toothpick should come out with a few moist crumbs (not wet batter). Overbaking makes brownies dry.

What’s the best way to store these?

Store cooled bars/cookies in an airtight container. For extra softness, place a slice of bread in the container for a day.

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