Soft and delicious cookie bars studded with Guylian praline chocolate. If you’re a praline chocolate fanatic like me, you will love these Guylian Cookie Bars!
What are Guylian?
Guylian is a well known Belgian chocolate brand. They are most well known for their roasted hazelnut praline seashell shaped chocolate; however they also make other chocolates such as truffles and chocolate bars.
It is said that the founders took inspiration to shape their chocolates like sea shells like those found on the Belgian coast. They thought this would be a lovely souvenir for tourists that had come for their holiday.
My love for Guylian chocolate almost certainly came from my Mum. It is her favourite chocolate which has been passed onto me. Mr Curly now buys me a box for Christmas, Valentine’s Day; or just because.
If you haven’t heard of Guylian chocolate before, I am genuinely sad for you. If you can buy them where you live I really suggest you go in search of them!
what are cookie bars?
Cookie bars are a wonderful, wonderful thing. As the name suggests, they are cookie dough baked as a traybake and cut into squares.
They’re double to three times the thickness of standard cookies and are honestly one of my favourite things to bake.
They’re easier, quicker and bigger than a standard cookie. What is not to love?!
Why make cookie bars and not cookies?
Although I love cookies and they are easy to make; cookie bars are even easier!
Instead of forming individual cookies and baking them on numerous baking trays; you add all of the mix to a square tin. It couldn’t get any easier!
As well as being quicker, it also means you have less washing up. Both are advantages for busy lives when all you want it something chocolatey.
When they’re baked, you then just cut them up and enjoy. Really easy and so tasty.
Do you prefer soft or crisp cookie bars?
I definitely prefer soft cookies. Always have and always will.
With these Guylian Cookie Bars, you can pick whether you like them super soft, soft or crisper. I know some people like to eat raw cookie dough.
Although that isn’t for me, you can bake these for 15-16 minutes and they will be super gooey in the middle. I like to bake them so they are still soft but they hold together when you cut them.
If you prefer a crisper cookie that is completely firm, then I would bake these bars for 23-25 minutes.
However you choose to bake them, the cookie bars at the edge will naturally be crisper and chewier. The bars in the middle that haven’t touched the edge of the tin will be softer. Which would you choose?
which guylian chocolate should I use?
Well according to my Mum, Guylian is too good to use in baking. But she definitely changed her mind when she tried these cookie bars!
I used Guylian hazelnut chocolate bars in the cookie dough. If you can’t get hold of these, or don’t want to use them; you can just use chocolate chips.
If you do want to go all out, you can use the Guylian seashells in the cookie dough as well as on top. They will definitely be delicious if you do choose to do this!
do you have to use guylian chocolate?
Although Guylian chocolate is absolutely delicious, it isn’t the cheapest chocolate to buy.
Quite a few supermarkets have their own version which look and taste very similar. These can be up to half the price of the branded chocolate and work just as well.
Since this recipe is in no way sponsored by Guylian I have no problem saying you can use whichever chocolates you like.
If Guylian chocolate isn’t your thing (sorry, what?!), then check out my Chocolate Orange Cookie Bars or Maltesers Cookie Bars.
how to stop your cookie bars getting too brown
In a perfect world, the Guylian seashells on top of the cookie bars would look as good as they do straight from the packet. However this isn’t the case!
They become slightly darker and may blister slightly when they are baked. I don’t mind how this looks and it doesn’t affect the taste at all.
However if you notice the seashells are getting a bit too dark, you can loosely cover the tin with foil part way through cooking.
how many cookie bars does this recipe make?
I wanted to make it so that these cookie bars had a whole Guylian seashell per square. This is why I cut the bars into 16.
Obviously you can cut the cookie bars as big or small as you like. You could definitely cut them into smaller pieces if they were for children.
how long do they keep for?
These Guylian Cookie Bars will keep in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
They will become slightly firmer the longer they are left but they are still delicious. If you have baked them so they are gooier, this will help them keep for softer for longer.
If you want to keep them for longer I would recommend freezing them.
how to freeze guylian cookie bars
Cookie bars freeze really well. I would cut them and let them cool completely before freezing.
Next, line up the cookie bars on a baking tray and put them in the freezer for one hour or so. Once they are firm, transfer them to a container or bag and freeze them completely.
By partially freezing them on a baking tray first, it should make it easier for you to separate however many you want to defrost. Leave them to defrost for an hour or so before eating.
They can be frozen for up to three months.
other recipes you might like
- Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookies
- White Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
- Chocolate & Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pin for later
Guylian Cookie Bars
Soft and delicious cookie bars studded with Guylian praline chocolate. If you're a praline chocolate fanatic like me, you will love these Guylian Cookie Bars!
Ingredients
- 125 g margarine
- 100 g light brown sugar
- 125 g caster sugar
- 1 egg
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- 225 g self raising flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 200 g Guylian chocolate
To finish
- 185 g Guylian Seashells (16 seashells)
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 170ºC (fan assisted, 190ºC non fan) and line a 20x20cm tin with baking paper
-
Cut up the Guylian chocolate bars and set aside
-
Cream the butter and the sugars together until light and fluffy
-
Add the egg and vanilla and mix until combined
-
Add in the flour, salt and chopped Guylian chocolate and mix until combined
-
Tip all of the mix into the prepared tin and smooth the top until it is level. Place the Guylian Seashells at regular intervals across the cookie dough
-
Bake in the oven for 18-20 minutes for a soft cookie and 23-25 minutes for a firmer cookie
-
Allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before leaving to cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into 16 equal squares
Recipe Notes
Keep in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Nutritional information is given as a guide only and may vary.
Chloe Edges says
I will take the cookie dough or a 10 minute cook time maximum please – I like them gooey as gooey comes! In seriousness, having tried some of your other cookie bar recipes, I’m sure these will be just as delicious and I’ll keep my eye out for some knock off chocolates to use!
Curly says
Haha that would be very gooey! Lidl and Aldi are the best places for replicas!
Janice says
You are killing me with all your cookie bar recipes! They are sooooo good and this version will definitely be coming into my life soon.
Curly says
Haha they’re just so good I keep making more! Already got another idea in the pipeline! You will love these ones, I think they’re my favourites so far.
Helen says
OMG, I haven’t had a chocolate seashell in years! These cookie bars look lush though, so I’ll definitely keep my eyes peeled for some 🙂
Curly says
They’re just amazing aren’t they! Thanks 🙂
Laura - Mummy Lauretta says
These look so good, a brilliant treat. Bet the kids would love them. #Cookblogshare
Curly says
Oh definitely the kids but adults too!
Lesley says
Oh I’m going to have to bake these cookie bars – I love Guylian chocolates!
Curly says
You really do have to! They’re my favourite yet!
Karen Booth says
LOVE the look of these, and I also adore gooey biscuits and cookies too! Lovely for Valentine’s Day. Thanks so much for linking up to #CookBlogShare week 6, Karen
Curly says
Thank you! They are so gooey and delicious!
Kat (The Baking Explorer) says
Hello melty gooey chocolate heaven!!
Curly says
Haha they’re soooo good!
Jacqui – Only Crumbs Remain:Recipes Made Easy says
I was swaying more to your mum’s way of thinking that the chocolates are too good to use in a bake but I think you have persuaded me to give them a try as they really do look very yummy indeed.
Curly says
Haha I converted her and it sounds like I have converted you too! The chocolates turn so melty and delicious – it really is worth it!
Kevin says
These were so delicious! I totally destroyed the bars by using the world’s smallest and fattest tray, but my god, even with my substandard baking they still tasted goooood.
Curly says
Hahaha I’m glad they were still good. A different sized tin would definitely affect the cooking time so it is generally easier to use the size in the recipe so you know how long to bake them for. You didn’t want to make it easy for yourself did you haha.