Meringue Topped Chocolate Chip Bars
This recipe for Meringue Topped Chocolate Chip Bars has been around since the 1930s. They’re often called Chocolate Halfway Bars and are a close relative to Mud Hen Bars, which have the addition of marshmallows. When I saw them on the American Heritage Cooking blog, I knew I must give them a whirl.
Meringue Topped Chocolate Chip Bars
The original recipe calls for shortening in the base, but I swapped this out for butter, plus upped the original chocolate. Duh. The crackly meringue topping isn’t the easiest to cut. Scoring while warm may give a better presentation, but we were running out the door when these came out of the oven.
The family didn’t seem to mind that their bars weren’t perfectly square or covered with an unmarred brown sugar meringue topping. I have a feeling you’ll be just as intrigued by these as I was…enough to give them a try.
For another unique meringue dessert, check out these lovely Tropical Napoleons. And these Simple Meringue Cookies are consistently my most popular recipe! Plus, peruse all these Bar Cookies!
Meringue Topped Chocolate Chip Bars
A unique, old-fashioned chocolate chip bar topped with meringue.
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup butter at room temperature
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 egg, separated
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
- 1 ½ teaspoons water
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° and line 8 x 8 inch baking dish with non-stick foil or foil sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour, salt, soda, and baking powder and set aside.
- In a larger bowl, using a hand mixer, beat butter with the 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup brown sugar until very light and fluffy. Add egg yolk, water, vanilla; mix well. Stir in flour mixture.
- Pat into baking dish and top with chocolate chips.
- Beat egg white until stiff; gradually beat in ½ cup brown sugar. Spread over chocolate. Bake in for 25 minutes or until top is golden. Cut into bars while warm. Cool completely.
Notes
Total time does not include cooling time.
Recipe adapted from the Good Housekeeping Cookbook, 1955 Edition, via American Heritage Cooking Blog
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1 barAmount Per Serving: Calories: 182Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 94mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 1gSugar: 17gProtein: 2g
48 Comments on “Meringue Topped Chocolate Chip Bars”
So glad I stumbled upon this recipe. My grandmother used to make these, and I loved them so much! Excited to make them thank you
My Mom, Grandma and Aunts all made this recipe when I was growing up. My mom even won a Blue Ribbon for them! I have made them all my 46 years of married life as well. We use different ingredient amounts and bake them in a 9 x 13 pan. Since my husband is allergic to chocolate, I use butterscotch chips on one end of the pan so he can enjoy them as well!!
Oh, what nice memories, Miriam!! Thanks for sharing—I had never heard of these until I starting blogging!
I have 2 different recipes from my mom for these. As a child I used to sneak the pan of bars and eat as many as I could. These are my absolute favorite bar! Mom never knew where the recipe came from, just handed down through the years. Thanks for the recipe and the cookbook info. yum yum
You’re most welcome, Patty! I need to make another batch!!!
These look incredible! WOWWWWWWWWWWWW. xxx
I have been making these bars for decades! Try them with butterscotch chips instead of chocolate, they are my daughter’s favorite, simply heavenly.
I am definitely intrigued enough to give these a go, I have never had meringue topped bars before, its a really good idea one which I wish I had tried ages ago the flavour possibilities are endless here!
These remind me of something my mother use to make that I had forgotten all about. I loved the crunchy meringue and the sweet goodness below. Even though I try not to bake much, I’m going to have make these. They are irresistible!
WHAAAAT?! Why have I never heard of these? Tasted these? Ugh… gimme gimme!!
I giggled when I read “mud hen bars!” These are lovely meringue-topped chocolate chip bars, Liz. They look special.
Love cookie bars but would never have thought to top them with meringue – that sounds incredible Liz! Love how pretty they look with the crackled topping too.
I’m super curious to find out how it tastes and feels with the meringue on top, chocolate in the middle and then the crust on the bottom! These bars are beautiful. I love them just as they are.
First, these look amazing. Second, I’m giggling because I can’t even make a meringue cookie properly yet – let alone top a cookie bar and bake it into awesomeness. Your skills inspire me ;D
My mom used to make a dessert that was similar in style, except that she made it with raspberries. She’d serve it warm, which kept the meringue tender, and topped it with ice cream and raspberry sauce.
Okay I’ve always said you were the bar queen, you just proved me SO VERY right. This is amazing. One of these days I’m going to drive over there for a weekend visit so we can bake together. How fun would that be. xx
yes! very intriguing! I love mud hen bars, so I think these would be great. I think they look just picture perfect!
Meringue on top is a pretty good idea.
so crunchy, tasty, delightful dessert bars, a great way to have something quick and delicious 🙂
Fabulous! I always think that some of the best recipes come from the 50s and 60s – or maybe it is nostalgia. I love the layers of this and the meringue topping.
This sounds like a very fun recipe and I bet the crackly top is so delicious. This sounds like an oldie but a goodie .
Definitely intrigued. You know a recipe is good when it has survived since the 1930s! So glad you shared the recipe, Liz. Thank you =)
Liz, you have some really amazing bar recipes in your blog. These chocolate bars with meringue top look fabulous.
These look brilliant! I can’t wait to make them!
All those different textures in one bite… Fabulous bars! 🙂 ela
Meringue takes these bars from good to sublime! Perfect ,even if the meringue is marred and the square not quite perfect. Just send the imperfect ones my way! I’ll be happy to oblige.
I imagine these bars would be as delightful as they look!
I make a slice with a meringue topping! I should put the recipe on the blog. There’s a shortbread base and then you spread raspberry jam, coconut then the meringue. Yes, there’s no such thing as cutting meringue neatly; we call it ‘rustic’ here in Oz. Chocolate and meringue is a winning combination xx
mmmmm I love that crackly meringue top–and of course that you swapped in butter and more chocolate 😉
I remember these bars, my mom made them all the time when I was a kid. Your look so yummy.
Lizzy,
These bars look amazing. I’ve never seen meringue on bars. I thought it was used only on lemon pie or as cookies. Can’t wait to try them.
Annamaria
I have all these ingredients in my pantry and fridge. Am making them as my reward when I finish doing my taxes. (My accountant is talking to me sternly to get them sent.) If you’re all running out the door, it must mean that the state of the Berg family health is good.
These bars look like they have the best texture, I love the meringue topping!
These look so yummy! Well I don’t mind to try out anything that invovles chocolate 🙂
Chocolate, bars and meringue in one? Genius 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
These cookie bars look killer, Liz! I like the cracked tops – it gives the bars an authentic, homey, comforting look.
I love this Liz! The meringue topping is such a great idea, and this chocolate chip bars look delicious.
Oh my goodness, what a genius idea! Not to mention delish!
These are two things I never would have put together but I just know it is a delicious combo!
I’m with Suzanne in regards to using a meringue in this way—never would’ve thought of it. And the crunchy cracks I wouldn’t mind a bit, especially when they give way to that macaron-like chewy-soft interior. Glad you spotted this recipe from Lindsey to share with us!
I love this. It’s unique and anything with meringue works for me. Pinned
What an interesting recipe! I love meringue so I’m sure I’d really enjoy these. Uneven edges aren’t a prob…they just mean more “sampling” for the person cutting 😉
I have a lemon bar recipe that has a similar meringue topping, it’s so tasty. You can never go wrong by upping the chocolate!
Thanks for featuring these and the link up! I’m so glad you and your family liked them! They definitely didn’t cut into the prettiest bars but, after a bite, I certainly didn’t mind! Your photos are beautiful!
Love that crackly, crunchy meringue topping! How unique! I love bar cookies…so easy!
pinned!
They sound not only yummy, but different:@)
I love Good Housekeeping, Liz! The recipes are so trusty. I often steal the whole recipe section from my mum’s GH magazine and they’re great! Love these bars … your lucky family!
I would never have thought of meringue on top of chocolate chip bars. I have never actually heard of it but I am glad to make its acquaintance.