Straightforward Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars -Two Peas & Their Pod

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Trust me, you are going to LOVE these bars!

• Easy to Make: You probably have all of the ingredients in your kitchen and you don’t have to roll the dough into individual cookies! Simply spread the dough into a baking pan and let the oven work its magic.
• Chewy & Gooey: The bars come out soft, chewy, and packed with melty chocolate chips. Perfect for those who love that ooey-gooey texture.
• Great for a Crowd: These bars are easy to transport and easy to share making them ideal for sharing at parties, gatherings, or picnics.
• Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a holiday, birthday, or just a craving, these bars are versatile enough for any celebration.

Key Ingredients

You’ll find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below, but here are some ingredient notes before you get started.

• Butter: For this cookie bar recipe, you melt the butter so you don’t have to wait for the butter to soften at room temperature, which is nice. You just melt the butter in a pan on the stovetop or in the microwave.
• Sugars: Use more brown sugar than regular sugar for a chewy cookie bar. Make sure you pack the brown sugar in the cup.
• Eggs: Use one large egg and one large egg yolk. The egg yolk makes the bars extra chewy.
•  Chocolate Chips: You can use semi-sweet, milk, or dark chocolate chips. Chocolate chunks will also work. Guittard chocolate is my favorite brand.

Variations

• Different Chips: Try white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, or caramel chips! Or do a mix of chips!
• Nuts: Add chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds to the dough for a satisfying crunch.
• M&M’s: Add colorful M&M’s to the dough for a festive touch and extra sweetness.
• Dried Fruit: Stir in raisins or dried cranberries for a fruity twist!

How to Make Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

• Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease it with butter.
• Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.

• Cream Butter & Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add Eggs & Vanilla: Beat in the egg and yolk, followed by the vanilla extract. Continue mixing until combined.

• Combine Wet & Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

• Add Chocolate Chips: Fold in the chocolate chips evenly throughout the dough.

• Spread in Pan: Spread the dough evenly in the prepared 9×13-inch pan, pressing it down lightly with a spatula. Sprinkle cookie bars lightly with flaky sea salt.

• Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes or until until the bars are golden brown around the edges and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Don’t over bake! Keep an eye on the bars towards the end of baking. You want them slightly underdone in the center for that perfect chewy texture.
• Cool & Serve: Let the bars cool in the pan to room temperature before slicing into squares. Enjoy the chewy, chocolatey goodness!

Storing Tips

• Room Temperature: Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
• Freezing: You can freeze these bars for up to 3 months. Simply wrap the cooled bars tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe bag. Thaw them at room temperature when you’re ready to enjoy them.
• Reheat: If you like your chocolate chip cookie bars warm, microwave individual pieces for 15-20 seconds for a soft and gooey treat!

More Cookie Bar Recipes

Bars

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Chocolate chip cookies made in ONE pan! These soft and chewy cookie bars are easy to make and a family favorite dessert!

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• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.

• In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the melted butter and sugars together until combined. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract and mix until smooth.

• Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix on low, just until combined. Don’t over mix.

• Stir in the chocolate chips with a spatula.

• Pour cookie dough into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with the spatula. Sprinkle cookie bars very lightly with sea salt, if desired.

• Bake cookie bars for 25-30 minutes or until the top of the bars are light golden brown and the edges start to pull away from the pan. Cool bars in the pan to room temperature. Cut bars into squares and serve.

Store the bars in an airtight container on the counter for up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 3 months. 

Calories: 225kcal, Carbohydrates: 32g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 32mg, Sodium: 110mg, Potassium: 28mg, Sugar: 22g, Vitamin A: 230IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 30mg, Iron: 0.8mg

Keywords chocolate chip, chocolate chip cookie bars

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