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By: julieblannerLeave a Comment
Updated: 6/28/23
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Soft and chewy, moist and flavorful - these chocolate chip cookie bars are mixed up quickly and just require one trip to the oven.
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Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars make classic chocolate chip cookies even easier. Cookies can’t be simpler than these – mix basic cookie ingredients together and bake! You’re so close to a delicious dessert, so just follow these steps and tips for perfect chocolate chip cookie squares.
If you’re a chocolate chip cookie lover, then you’ve got to try the bar pan version of chocolate chip cookies. Just pull out your usual cookie ingredients – plus some flaky sea salt if you’re ready to take the cookies up a notch – and you’re ready to bake. Mix the dough up in 5 minutes. Put the pan in the oven just ONCE and then you’ve got scrumptious chocolate chip cookie bars!
Cookies with chocolate chips are so classic. Try some more cookies with chocolate chips and candies that are sure to satisfy your cookie cravings. I love Peanut Butter Cup Cookies, , and Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies. And if you love the dough just as much as the baked cookie, you’ve got to try Edible Cookie Dough!
Chocolate chip cookie bars are such a great invention, capturing all of the goodness of chocolate chip cookies made easily in one pan. Because the whole batch of dough bakes at once, you get two different consistencies in the final product.
The bar cookies on the inside are moist and dense – not cakey at all. The pieces on the outside get cooked a little more, so they’re more firm and deliciously chewy.
I like to cut my cookies into 9 pieces. You could also make mini squares for little children. Or, you could go huge and not the cut the cookie at all! Give the full size cookie as a gift that will really make a fun, delicious present. Wouldn’t you love to get one?
Table of Contents
About Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Chewy edge pieces, soft inside pieces
- Bake everything all at once in one pan
- Uses basic chocolate chip cookie ingredients
- Top with flaky sea salt for a gourmet taste
Tools You Need
- Stand mixer with bowl and paddle attachment. Or, you can use a hand mixer with beaters.
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Rubber spatula
- 8×8″ baking pan
- Parchment paper
What You Need to Make Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Butter, softened – Butter is the base of our cookie bars! It adds structure and richness! I use salted butter so if you use unsalted, make sure to add ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt to the dough.
- Light Brown Sugar – I love light brown sugar in cookies, but dark brown sugar or granulated sugar would also work. Learn more about brown sugar here.
- Large Eggs – Eggs help bind the cookie bars together so they don’t fall apart.
- Pure Vanilla Extract – Vanilla enhances the flavor of the chocolate.
- All-Purpose Flour – Flour gives the cookies structure. I recommend using the spoon and level method technique so you don’t end up with too much or too little flour.
- Baking Soda –Baking Soda helps the cookie bars rise just a bit so they stay soft and chewy.
- Chocolate Chips – I’m using dark chocolate chips but feel free to use any kind you like!
- Flaky Sea Salt, optional – These tiny bits of thin salt really complement the sweetness of the cookie.
Variations
- Chocolate Chips – Use any variety of chocolate chip: milk chocolate, semi-sweet, dark, mini, chunks, etc.
- M&Ms – They’ll add colorful candy and chocolate.
- Nuts – Add a cup of chopped pecans or walnuts if you love nuts in your cookies.
- Peanut Butter Chips – Substitute the chocolate chips with peanut butter chips or add a cup of peanut butter chips along with the chocolate chips for a PB and chocolate combo!
Overview | How to Make Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
The full printable recipe is below
- Cream softened butter and brown sugar with paddle attachment until light and fluffy – about 2 minutes.
- Next, mix in eggs and vanilla, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
- Mix in flour and baking soda just until combined.
- Fold chocolate chips into the dough.
- Spread cookie dough evenly in an 8×8 pan lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350°F, until center of cookie is set.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if desired. Let cool in pan.
- Remove cookie from pan using overhang of parchment paper. Cut into squares.
Tips
- Spread out the dough as evenly as you can. This will help the cookie bar to bake more uniformly.
- Use an 8×8″ pan that has square corners rather than rounded corners. The cookies will cut perfectly square.
- Sprinkle some extra chocolate chips on top before baking so they’ll really stand out.
- Decorate with sprinkles before baking and you’ve got a birthday cookie/cake! Such a fun edible gift for one of your kids to give to a friend.
How to Store
- At room temperature, cookies can be covered and stored for up to three days.
- After the cookies are cooled and cut, place cookies in airtight containers or bags and freeze for up to three months. You can also freeze individual cookies to pull out for school lunches. The cookies will thaw by lunch.
- You can even freeze the cookie dough. I recommend lining a freezer-safe pan with parchment paper or heavy duty aluminum foil. Use enough to have the paper or foil go up and over the handles of your pan. Pour the dough into the pan on top the foil/paper and smooth it out. Freeze the pan until dough is solid. Remove the frozen dough by lifting on the paper/foil. Wrap your frozen dough so that it is airtight and store in refrigerator for up to 3 months. When ready to use, return dough to the same pan lined with new parchment paper or foil. Let it thaw in the fridge and then bake according to directions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know when my chocolate chip cookie bars are done?
The outside edges will be golden brown and the inside will be set and not jiggle if you shake the pan a little. You can always insert a toothpick into the center of the cookie. If it comes out with just a few crumbs sticking to it, then the cookie is done.
Can I double the recipe?
Yes, double the recipe and use a 9×13″ pan. The surface area of an 8×8″ pan is 64 square inches; doubled it would be 128 square inches. The surface area of a 9×13″ pan is 117 square inches, which is just a little less than 2 8×8″ pans. The cookies will be a little thicker and need about 5 minutes more baking time.
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More Chocolate
Classic Cookies
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
julieblanner
Soft and chewy, moist and flavorful – these chocolate chip cookie bars are mixed up quickly and just require one trip to the oven.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 9 cookies
Calories 442 kcal
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 10 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1¼ cups light brown sugar, packed
- 2 eggs, size large
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1½ cups chocolate chips, semi-sweet, dark or milk chocolate
- flakey sea salt, optional
Instructions
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F and line an 8×8” pan with parchment paper.
Add the softened butter and brown sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy–about 2 minutes.
Next, add the eggs and vanilla and mix to combine. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Now add the flour and baking soda and mix just to combine–you don’t want to overmix.
Add the chocolate chips and fold them into the cookie dough.
Transfer the cookie dough to the prepared pan and spread it into an even layer.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cookie bars are fully set in the center.
Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool to room temperature in the pan–this will help them set. While the bars are still warm, sprinkle with flakey salt, if desired.
Once the bars have fully cooled, slice and enjoy. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.
Notes
- Spread out the dough as evenly as you can. This will help the cookie bar to bake more uniformly.
- Use an 8×8″ pan that has square corners rather than rounded corners. The cookies will cut perfectly square.
- Sprinkle some extra chocolate chips on top before baking so they’ll really stand out.
- Decorate with sprinkles before baking and you’ve got a birthday cookie/cake! Such a fun edible gift for one of your kids to give to a friend.
Nutrition
Calories: 442kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 4gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 327mgPotassium: 88mgFiber: 1gSugar: 41gVitamin A: 442IUCalcium: 39mgIron: 2mg
Keyword chocolate chip cookie bars
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