Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar Help Needed

[prego]

Been trying to make a family recipe that no one has made since our parents died 2 years ago. Basically its choc. chip cookie dough but you bake it like brownies and cut it in into bars. Here is the recipe:

1 cup shortning
4 cups sugar
Cream together then
1teaspoon vanilla
4 eggs adding 1 at a time and striring
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups flour
1 cup chocalate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Put in greased pan and bake for 45 min at 375 degrees

Batter looks good when im ready to cook but after 45 min the top rises and its hollow underneath and the top and bottom are burnt. The middle is still dough.My oven is a standard flat top kenmore and i havent had any problems with it before. Any help is appreciated.

[cat lover]

First I would get an oven thermometer that you can hang in your oven and check that it is reading correct. And with that much shortening you really shouldn't have to grease the pan. Here is a recipe I've made for 30+ years and it always works. Let us know if you get it figured out; hope one of these ideas help.

Pan Cookie

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
One 6 oz pkg. semi sweet chocolate morsels

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt and set aside. In a bowl beat butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract till creamy. Beat in eggs. Gradually add flour mixture. Stir in morsels. Spread in ungreased 15 1/2" x 10 1/2 x 1" baking pan. Cut into 2" squares. Makes 35 squares.

You can add 1 cup walnuts when you add the morsels if desired.

[barbszy]

I use virtually the same Pan Cookie recipe as cat lover and have never had a problem. Looking at your recipe, it seems like those quantities might not work.

[Sammi1961]

Are you baking these bars in a glass cake pan? That can often cause that kind of result.

[Bilby]

Maybe a lower heat for a longer time in the oven would be better to give them time to cook and not burn. All ovens are different and it's just figuring out what is best for yours.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Prego, I agree with the termometer and the shortening. Maybe you could change it up a bit?

Also, if you get a chance, pop into the Welcome thread (http://www.momsmenu.com/forums/showthread.php?p=9795#post9795) so everyone else can get to know you. I look forward to sharing ideas with you.