Marbled Bars
Treat yourself to the indulgent swirl of flavor in these Marbled Bars, a dessert that perfectly combines rich cocoa and buttery vanilla in every bite. These gorgeous treats feature a soft, chewy base made with simple pantry staples, offering a harmonious contrast of flavors and textures. The mesmerizing marbled pattern is achieved by gently swirling two batters together, resulting in a show-stopping presentation that’s deceptively easy to create. With optional chocolate chips for extra decadence, these bars are baked to perfection in just 25–30 minutes, making them an ideal choice for any occasion—from casual snacks to elegant dessert tables. Impress your guests with this visually stunning, easy-to-make recipe that’s sure to disappear in seconds!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 0.5 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 whole large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 0.5 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy using a hand mixer or stand mixer.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until fully incorporated. Then mix in the vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined. Do not overmix.
Divide the batter equally into two bowls. In one bowl, stir in the cocoa powder and milk until fully combined. If using, fold in the optional chocolate chips into this cocoa batter.
Spread the plain (vanilla) batter evenly into the prepared pan. Dollop the cocoa batter on top in spoonfuls, then use a knife to gently swirl the batters together to create a marbled effect. Be careful not to over-swirl; you want distinct patterns.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs.
Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Use the parchment overhang to lift the bars out of the pan and transfer them to a cutting board.
Cut into 12 bars and serve! Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3719 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 149.4 g | 192% | |
| Saturated Fat | 84.5 g | 422% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 623 mg | 208% | |
| Sodium | 1830 mg | 80% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 588.8 g | 214% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 36.0 g | 129% | |
| Total Sugars | 348.2 g | ||
| Protein | 58.6 g | 117% | |
| Vitamin D | 2.3 mcg | 12% | |
| Calcium | 384 mg | 30% | |
| Iron | 27.4 mg | 152% | |
| Potassium | 1827 mg | 39% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
