Chocolate Chip Cookie Butter Bars

1. Preheat oven to 350F and grease and line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper. Allow the paper to hang over the sides for easy removal.
2. Starting with the cookie base, using a hand or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
3. Then mix in the egg and vanilla, followed by the salt and baking powder.
4. Pour in the flour and switch to a rubber spatula to mix in the flour by hand.
5. Just before the flour is fully combined, pour in the chocolate chips and continue to fold by hand. The dough will appear very thick and dry, but it will come together. Make sure all dry patches are fully worked in.
6. Take half of the dough and press it into the bottom of the 8×8 pan. It will be a very thin layer. If half of the dough isn’t enough, grab little pinches of the other half to fill in any gaps. Set the pan and additional dough aside.

Cookie Butter Dough

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cookie butter and melted butter.
2. Once smooth, whisk in the vanilla and salt.
3. Switch to a rubber spatula and mix in the powdered sugar. It will appear very thick and dry so at this point, mix in the cornstarch and milk. The dough should be similar to a play-doh consistency.
4. Press the cookie butter dough into an even layer on top of the chocolate chip cookie dough.
5. Crumble the remaining chocolate chip cookie dough on top, making sure to cover as much of the cookie butter layer as possible.
6. Sprinkle with a handful of more chocolate chips and bake for 28-32 minutes.
7. When it’s fresh from the oven, use the tip of a butter knife to press down the golden brown edges. This is because as the bars cool, the center will sink more than the edges so pressing down the sides will ensure the bars cool nice and level.
8. Top with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt and allow the bars to cool for at least 30 minutes.
9. To slice, run a knife along the edges of the bars to release them from the pan (the cookie butter layer can sometimes stick to the sides). Then lift the bars out, slice, and enjoy!