Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
These buttery, chewy cookie bars take the waiting out of making cookies. One pan, one bake, cut, and serve. Forgot to make the treat for your child’s soccer team? Need an easy dessert to share with neighbors to say “Thank You” for them mowing the lawn while you were on vacation? We’ve got you covered! In under thirty minutes, you will be walking out the door with a hot plate of chewy, gooey, golden chocolate chip cookie bars!
Why I love these cookie bars
In this busy, chaotic, non-stop world I live in, Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars have become a staple. Who has time for drop cookies? Plus, I always burn the last sheet of cookies. Which is just maddening. I can whip up chocolate chip cookie bars in a matter of minutes, press them into a 12 x 15″ baking sheet, pop them in the oven for 20 minutes, and VOILA! Kids (and adults) are big fans of these super-easy cookie bars. I have even made them in a disposable pan, so I don’t have to wait for them to cool before walking out the door. I just cut them when I get wherever it is I’m taking these no-fail cookie bars. This is a very versatile cookie bar recipe with add-ins; you can add whatever you like: butterscotch chips, nuts, white chocolate chips, dried fruit. Three cups of whatever your heart desires! These bars are always a hit at any gathering, and they’re as simple as they are delicious.
Gather these ingredients
With teenagers, you just never know who might end up at your home, and I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating, when you bake for kids, they hang around and eat, and talk, and you learn things about them and because you’ve taken time to bake for them, they know you care. Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are like hugs in a pan.
Tips & Variations
- Don’t over bake – For gooey cookies bars, take them out when the edges are golden but the center looks slightly soft. They’ll firm up as they cool. (-> chewy dessert bars)
- Mix, don’t over mix – over-stirring can make your bars tough instead of chewy. (-> soft and chewy dessert bars)
- Chill before cutting – If you have time, for picture perfect slices, let the bars cool completely before cutting into them. WARNING: this is nearly impossible.
- Customizable cooke bar recipe:
- M&M Cookie Bars – swap half the chocolate chips for colorful M&Ms. Perfect party dessert in under 30 minutes.
- Nutty Cookie Bars – Add chopped walnuts, pecans, or pistachios for a crunchy twist.
- Peanut Butter Cookie Bars: Stir in peanut butter chips or replace half the butter with peanut butter for an extra rich flavor.
- S’mores Cookie Bars – Mix in one cup of crushed graham crackers, with two cups of chocolate chips, and sprinkle with mini marshmallows before baking for a fun summer or tailgate dessert.
- Salted Caramel Cookie Bars – drizzle caramel sauce over the batter before baking then sprinkle with sea salt.
- Holiday Cookie Bars – Use red and green M&Ms for Christmas treats. Pink and red for Valentines Day, you get it what ever the holiday may be add in your favorite candies for the season. Halloween, you could add in candy corn and peanuts!
When to serve chocolate chip cookie bars
- Tailgating – Portable and sharable, making them the best cookie bars for a crowd.
- Lunchbox Treats – Perfect for lunch boxes and a kid-approved after school snack idea.
- Bake and Share – A thoughtful easy dessert to share with neighbors or tuck in your basket when brining someone a meal.
- Potlucks & Parties – Big crowd? No problem! Double the batch for a quick, crowd-pleasing one-pan cookie bar recipe.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are spectacular for tailgaters, too! Enjoy! XO Sheila
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Equipment
- 12×15" baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 3 whole eggs
- 3 cups flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 3 cups chocolate chips or any combination of chips you like
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Add butter and sugars to mixing bowl with paddle attachment cream together ingredients until fluffy. About 3 minutes.
- Add vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, being sure to mix well after each. Scrape down sides of bowl.
- In separate bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add flour to butter/sugar mixture.
- Fold in chocolate chips, scrape sides of bowl, and continue to mix for 30 seconds or so.
- Using a large spatula dollop cookie dough on to baking sheet, using spatula spread dough evenly until it completely covers baking sheet. Dough will be spread thin, and there may be a hole or two, that's OK when cookie bars bake they will rise and fill in the empty spots. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until just barely brown.
Nutrition
I love making bar recipes- so much less work and time than baking dozens of cookies! These look so chewy and gorgeous!
Oooo….these look yummy my friend. I will have to give them a try. My kids thank you. 😉
I LOVE bars, and don’t have a recipe for a chocolate chip cookie version – thanks!!
Genius! My kids will be happily surprised to get these as an afternoon snack. We are super busy with kids sports in a completely rewarding way. Although, I wouldn’t mind adding a little more excitement with some Camel Racing!
I hope your kiddos enjoy! They are killer warm out of the oven. I hear ya on the excitement. What do you think our kids would think if we should up on a camel to pick them up from soccer practice?!? hee hee Thanks for stopping by ; )
The bar cookie is my favorite! Don’t get me wrong – I love the drop cookie – but busy families still need cookies and the bar option is a quick alternative. And, yes, teens hang around longer when baked goods are present. I’m not afraid to admit that I bake them and bribe the teens in my life!! Happy start of school year, friend!
We are off and running with school activities and all that jazz! The weather is hanging on beautifully here, so it still seems like summer, but I’m not complaining!
These look yummy!