Chocolate Chess Bars with Shortbread Crust

These chocolate chess pie bars feature a fudgy chocolate layer on top of a buttery shortbread crust. They’re a wonderful dessert to serve for the holidays or to take to a cookie exchange party.

If shortbread bars and chocolate chess pie had a baby, it would be these chocolate chess bars.

The bars have a fudgy custard filling on top of a buttery shortbread crust. When the bars bake, the chocolate develops a thin, crackly top layer, thanks to the cornstarch in the batter.

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What is Chess Pie?

Chocolate chess pie is a classic southern recipe. It features a rich, slow-baked chocolatey custard on a flaky crust.

If you like it chocolate chess pie, you will love these fudgy shortbread bars because they’re even more flavorful and decadent. Who can resist a shortbread crust?

These chocolate chess bars would be perfect for a cookie exchange party or to take to a family holiday gathering. They do not disappoint!

Looking for more Christmas cookie ideas? Try my Butterscotch Haystacks, Fruitcake Cookies, Forgotten Cookies or one of these 30 Christmas cookie recipes.

You can scroll to the end of this post for the full recipe and ingredient list. But you may want to keep reading for more tips on how to make these delcious chocolate dessert bars.

To Make Chocolate Chess Bars, You Will Need:

• Flour – Use all-purpose flour for this recipe.
• Confectioner’s sugar – You’ll need powdered confectioner’s sugar for the shortbreasd crust, as well as for garnish for the baked bars.
• Butter – I always use real, unsalted butter for baking.
• Cocoa Powder  – I used Hershey’s natural unsweetened cocoa powder in this recipe, but you could try another brand. Just make sure it is unsweetened baking powder, not hot chocolate mix.
• Sugar – You’ll need granulated white sugar for the chocolate chess topping.
• Cornstarch – This thickening agent helps chess pie bars form their distinctive chewy/crunchy top layer.
• Eggs – I like to use large eggs when baking.
• Evaporated milk – You’ll find evaoporated milk on the baking aisle, not in the dairy section, in the grocery store. It’s sold in cans; and it has half the water content of regular milk.
• Vanilla extract – I recommend using high-quality real vanilla extract.
• Salt – Use table salt, not a coarser grained salt, for baking.

Want to see a brief overview of the process before diving into the recipe? Click here to watch my web story on how to make these fudgy shortbread squares.

How to Make Chocolate Chess Cookie Bars

The chocolate shortbread bars need to be baked in two stages.

First you’ll prepare and par-bake the shortbread crust. Next, you’ll make the filling, pour it over the crust and bake until set.

Making the shortbread crust

1. First, you’ll need to prepare the shortbread cookie crust. Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Next, combine the flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl and whisk. 
3. Cut in butter with a two forks or a pastry blender until well incorporated. You’ll know the dough is ready when it holds together in your hands. You may also use your food processor to make the shortbread dough, pulsing the ingredients until they form a dough.
4. Gently press the dough into the bottom of the baking dish. Be careful not to press the dough too firmly into the pan or the cooked chess bars may be hard to remove.
5. Bake the shortbread crust for 18 to 20 minutes, until the edges brown slightly. Allow the crust to cool slightly while you prepare the chocolate chess topping.

Preparing the chocolate chess filling

1. Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder and cornstarch. Add beaten eggs, evaporated milk, cooled melted butter and vanilla. Stir to combine.  
3. Pour the chocolate filling mixture over the shortbread crust and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a crust forms and the bars are mostly set.
4. Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting and removing the bars from the pan.
5. Dust the tops of the bars lightly with confectioner’s sugar, if desired.

Packaging Ideas for Baked Goods

These chocolate bars make wonderful holiday gifts for friends and neighbors.

You can put them in an airtight GladWare or Ziploc holiday container tied with ribbon or baker’s twine.

But for an extra-special presentation, I suggest using holiday treat tins or bakery boxes.

You can make treat boxes with a Cricut or Silhouette, like I did, using patterned cardstock.

1. Line each bakery box with decorative wax paper or parchment paper.
2. Place cookie bars inside the box and tie with baker’s twine or holiday ribbon.
3. Add a decorative tag or sticker, if desired. You’ll find holiday gift tags and Christmas recipe cards you can print at home in my Ultimate Christmas Planner.

Pin This! Chocolate Chess Pie Bars

More Holiday Baked Goods

Try these other sweet treats and desserts.

• Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Candies
• Old-Fashioned Icebox Fruit Cake
• Red Velvet Hot Chocolate Bombs
• S’mores Chocolate Covered Marshmallows
• Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie Bars
• Nutty Salted Caramel Chocolate Sauce

If you try Chocolate Chess Pie Bars or any recipe on Atta Girl Says, please come back and share your 5-star rating in the comments below! I appreciate it, and my readers do, too!

Printable Recipe Card

Chocolate Chess Bars

A fudgy chocolate chess filling baked atop a buttery shortbread crust. These decadent squares are a delicous holiday treat.

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Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 24 bars

Calories 133 kcal

Equipment

• Whisk
• pastry blender
• electric stand mixer with whisk attachment (optional)

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Shortbread crust:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• ½ cup confectioner’s sugar
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ sticks unsalted butter

Chocolate Chess Filling:

• 4 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 large eggs beaten
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled
• 5 ounces evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Confectioner’s sugar optional

Instructions

 

For the shortbread crust:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Combine the flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl and whisk.
• Cut in butter with a pastry blender or forks until well incorporated and the dough holds together in your hand.
• Gently press the dough into the bottom of a 9X13-inch baking dish. Don't overwork the dough or press too firmly or the bars may stick to the pan.
• Bake 18-20 minutes, until the edges brown slightly. Remove the shortbread from the oven and let cool slightly in the baking dish.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

For the chocolate chess filling:

• Whisk together sugar, cocoa powder and cornstarch in a large bowl. Add beaten eggs, evaporated milk, melted butter and vanilla. Stir to combine.
• Pour the chocolate filling mixture over the shortbread crust and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a crust forms and the bars are mostly set. Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting and removing the bars from the pan.
• Dust the tops of the bars lightly with confectioner’s sugar, if desired.

Notes

For a pretty presentation, dust the chocolate chess squares with confectioner’s sugar. Or add a dollop of whipped creame.

Nutrition

Calories: 133kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 2gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 85mgPotassium: 48mgFiber: 1gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 94IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg

Keyword bars, chocolate, Christmas, cookies

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