Name: Georgia Regnault
Class Year: 1964
Country of Residence: The Netherlands

Why is this recipe great? What’s its backstory? 

My Grandmother used to make these – it became then my favorite cookies, my kids’ favorite and now my grandchildren’s favorite. It doesn’t look nice, but sure tastes good! Happy eating.

Chocolate Halfway Bars

Serves 12. Takes 10 minutes + 25 minutes baking

Ingredients:
1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ cup soft shortening
¼ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup brown sugar, packed
1 egg, separated
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ½ teaspoons water
½ cup semisweet chocolate chips (or broken-up candy bar)
½ cup brown sugar, packed

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375° and grease an8” square pan (can line with parchment paper if you want!)
Sift flour, salt, soda, and baking powder and set aside.
Mix shortening with sugars until very light and fluffy. Add egg yolk, water, vanilla; mix well. Thoroughly mix in flour mixture.
Pat into baking dish and top with chocolate chips.

Beat egg white until stiff; gradually beat in ½ cup brown sugar. Spread over chocolate. Bake in prepared dish for 25 minutes or until done. The top will be golden. Cut into bars while warm. Cool completely.

Source:

Good Housekeeping Cookbook, 1955 Edition