Happy Birthday Cookie Bar Bonanza

It was Bill's birthday on Friday and I wanted to make him something special. Any excuse to bake is a good enough reason for me! For outrageously good recipes, I always head over to Picky Palate's website for inspiration. I decided on Double Cookie and Cream Kiss Cookie Bars. The recipe calls for regular Oreo cookies but, to be even more festive, I used Birthday Cake Oreo cookies. Oh. My. Goodness. 

The beginning of something beautiful...

Here's the recipe:
 

Double Cookies and Cream Kiss Cookie Bars

1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup mini chocolate chips
12 Oreo Cookies, broken up
25 Cookies and Cream Hershey’s Kisses

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line an 8×8 inch baking pan with foil sprayed with cooking spray.

2. Place butter and sugars into a large bowl, stir to combine, at least 2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla, mixing to combine. Add dry ingredients, chocolate chips and Oreo cookie pieces, stirring to combine. Press 1/3 of the dough into the bottom of prepared baking pan. Top with 5 rows of Hershey’s Kisses 5 per row. Top with remaining dough and gently press. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool for 30 minutes, cut into squares and serve.

Makes 12-16 bars (or, at my house, 6 bars!)