Description
These Salted Pistachio Chocolate Chip Bars combine the rich, nutty flavor of browned butter with roasted pistachios and luscious dark chocolate chunks. Finished with a delicate sprinkle of flaky sea salt, these bars boast a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and slightly crunchy textures, making them an irresistible treat perfect for any dessert or snack time.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter (melted and browned)
- 2/3 cups light brown sugar
- 2 tbsp white sugar
- 1 egg (room temperature)
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt (only if using unsalted pistachios)
Mix-ins & Toppings
- 1/2 cup roasted and salted pistachios (finely chopped)
- 1 dark chocolate bar (chopped, approximately 3/4 cups)
- Flaky sea salt (optional, for sprinkling on top)
Instructions
- Brown the Butter: Melt the butter in a medium pan over medium heat. Stir continuously as the butter melts, crackles, and turns foamy. Continue cooking until it turns a golden brown color and emits a nutty aroma, roughly 5 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a glass bowl. Allow it to cool for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat Oven & Prepare Pan: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking tray with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix Sugars and Butter: In a large bowl, whisk together the cooled browned butter, light brown sugar, and white sugar until well combined.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Incorporate the room temperature egg and vanilla extract into the sugar mixture. Whisk until the batter turns light in color and smooth in texture.
- Add Dry Ingredients & Mix-ins: Gently fold in the flour, baking soda, and salt (if using). Then fold in the chopped dark chocolate and finely chopped pistachios until no flour streaks remain. Be careful not to overmix.
- Spread Batter: Evenly spread the batter into the prepared baking pan. Optionally, sprinkle extra pistachios and chocolate chunks on top for added texture and flavor.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. The bars are done when the edges turn golden brown, and the center looks puffy but slightly underdone.
- Add Sea Salt: Immediately after removing from the oven, sprinkle a dash of flaky sea salt over the bars to enhance flavor.
- Cool & Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing into 9 servings. Enjoy the perfect blend of sweet, salty, and nutty flavors!
Notes
- Using salted pistachios allows you to omit the added salt in the dough for balanced flavor.
- Letting the browned butter cool prevents the egg from cooking when added.
- Do not overbake; the center should remain slightly soft to keep the bars chewy.
- Flaky sea salt topping is optional but highly recommended for a gourmet touch.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or refrigerate for a week.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
