Gooey Chocolate Chip Bars | & Let's Have Fun Again!😙✌️
These gooey chocolate chip bars absolutely blewwww my mind😩 I made these bars using the BEST brown butter chocolate chip cookie recipe (which you can find exclusively in my ebook here) but any pre-made cookie dough will work just fine!
Warm out of the oven, they were so rich, gooey and chocolatey, literally melting into your mouth with every bite. Next time, I’m definitely eating this with some ice cream😋 I definitely would recommend reheating it for 30ish seconds if you’re not eating it right away!
The Pressure to Always Be Doing More
Someone tell me why there’s this constant pressure to get a side hustle, to monetize our hobbies, or to constantly work on ourselves. Why aren’t we allowed to just have fun and enjoy life without feeling the need to be “productive”?
There is so much more to life than just getting richer or more “successful.” It’s okay to want success, more money, or to improve yourself—but if that’s all you’re focused on, then what’s the point? What’s the point of achieving this success if you can’t even sit back and enjoy yourselves?
When Is It Ever Enough?
We aren’t broken machines that constantly needs fixing or upgrading. We are good enough just as we are. Simply by being human, we are enough. We don’t need to prove anything—to ourselves or to others—to deserve rest or play.
We’re always striving for more without realizing the beauty and goodness right in front of us—some of which is exactly what we used to wish for. Think about all of the things you have now that your past self was aching for. How do you feel about them today? Are they enough? Or have you become indifferent because you’re already chasing the next thing?
I’m not saying you shouldn’t dream bigger or work towards your goals—those things matter. But don’t forget to appreciate all that you have now. Otherwise, you’ll never be happy. You’ll always be chasing more without ever feeling satisfied. And it’s not a fun way to live.
Redefining Value
I know that many of us are living in survival mode. We don’t feel safe enough to rest. We don’t feel like we deserve it— maybe because we think we haven’t worked “hard enough.” But I’m here to remind you: it’s okay to relax. It’s okay to play.
That hobby of yours that brings you peace of mind? You don’t have to monetize it just because someone said you should. You don’t have to replace with a side hustle or another self-development book (unless you truly enjoy reading self-development books). That face that it brings you joy is enough. Just because society doesn’t deem it as “valuable” because it doesn’t make money or lead to self-improvement doesn’t mean it’s worthless or a waste of time. Society will constantly make you feel like you should be doing more with your time and not wasting it on “meaningless” hobbies or activities that bring no “value.”
Who are they to decide what counts as valuable anyway?
The value is that it makes you happy.
The value is that it brings you peace.
The value is that it’s just plain fun.
Life is meant to be enjoyed.
There’s a time and place for work, productivity, and self-development. But it shouldn’t occupy every waking moment of your life.
I understand that not everyone has the luxury of free time. Some people are working multiple jobs, raising kids, or just trying to survive. I totally get it. But if you’re able to carve out even 30 minutes to do something that just because it brings you joy—that’s a win.
Now ask yourself this: ⬇️
What’s one thing you used to love doing just for fun? Can you give yourself permission to return to it—without pressure?
Ingredients:
About 2 1/2 - 3 cups cookie dough. My brown butter chocolate chips cookies work the BEST for this (which you can find exclusively in my ebook here) If using my recipe, just make the full batch and it’ll work perfectly for this!
14 oz sweetened condensed milk
About 1 cup chocolate chips (use as much as you want though)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13” baking pan with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray for easy removal.
Press a little over half the cookie dough in the prepared pan. (Spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray so it won’t stick to you.)
Pour sweetened condensed milk mixture over the top of the bottom layer.
Top with the chocolate chips.
Then break up the remaining cookie dough. Press with your hands to flatten it so it cover more area. Place on top of the milk. It will mostly cover but not completely cover the bottom layer.
Bake for about 30-35 minutes until the tops of the bars just start to get golden brown. Cool completely before slicing into bars.
Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to one month. These are best served room temperature. Reheat for about 30ish seconds if you want them more gooey.
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That part you wrote—“What’s the point of success if you can’t even sit back and enjoy yourselves?”
hit me like something my bones already knew.
There’s that quote—“You used to dream of the life you have now.”
We should probably enjoy it—
for our past self’s sake.
They worked hard to get us here.
Like Maya Angelou said,
“Every person needs one day away... a day to just be.”
Not to build or prove. Just to be.
Maybe a pan of gooey cookie bars is that kind of day.
Warm. Simple. Undeniably enough.
Glad you reminded us of this.
Thank you for sharing, I’m so glad this resonated with you❤️