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Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

ByJo-Anna Rooney Posted Updated
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These Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are soft, chewy and chocolaty! Bake the batch in one pan, so you get 40 tasty cookie bars all at once. No waiting for batches of cookies to bake when you make these bars!

Sometimes making cookies can be a bit of a chore…it’s not the mixing, it’s more the time it takes to bake the full batch of dough. It’s not a lot of time, but sometimes you just want to get everything done in one shot, know what I mean? That’s why cookie bars are SO great. You make up a batch of cookie dough, press it into a baking pan and voila, you’re done. Soft, chewy delicious chocolate chip cookies in bar form, ready in minutes. Perfect for cookie cravings that need to be satisfied stat!

Why are they the best you ask? You can have an entire batch of cookies all done and baked at the same time. No waiting for 2 or 3 batches of cookies to bake, instead you get the whole batch done at once. Bake a slab then cut it into 36 – 40 squares, and you have an instant completed batch of cookies.

Soft. Chewy. Delicious.

These bars far surpassed my expectations for a chewy and soft chocolate chip cookie. They are divine. DIVINE. And I love how simple they were to make. They would be a great idea for a bake sale, or a hostess gift too – just cut them up into bite size pieces and you’re done. You’ll want to make them…trust me. And have a glass of milk ready because these bars are chocolatey and rich. Enjoy!

About baking these cookie bars:

This cookie bar recipe has 3 eggs and a lot of brown sugar, which makes them so soft and chewy. But the real key to soft cookies is how long you bake them for. The recipe calls for 30 minutes of baking time which yields a very soft and chewy cookie, maybe even for some, too soft. So if you like your cookie bars a little more done, just bake them longer. If you don’t like any chewiness, bake them for 5-10 minutes more. We personally loved the softness of the bars, so the 30 minute baking time worked for us.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Recipe Tips

  • CHOCOLATE: You can use milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet, dark chocolate chips, mini chocolate chips, or chocolate covered candy like m+m’s or Smarties. Feel free to use flavoured chips like peanut butter chips or butterscotch chips.
  • BROWN SUGAR: Yes, there is a lot of brown sugar, but this is what makes these cookie bars so soft and chewy. Use light brown sugar (golden brown), not dark brown sugar.
  • LINE THE PAN: Line the baking pan with parchment paper so you can easily remove the cookie slab when it’s done baking, that way you can cut it into bars.
  • THE DOUGH IS STICKY! Here’s a tip for pressing the batter into the baking pan: CHILL THE DOUGH for at least 15 minutes before pressing it into the pan, it’s just too sticky when it’s warm.
  • ABOUT THE BAKING TIME: If you want soft and chewy cookie bars bake them for 30 minutes. If you want them a little more crunchy, bake them a little longer.
  • STORAGE: Keep these bars soft by storing them in an airtight container.
  • FREEZING: These cookie bars freeze well. Store them in an airtight container or ziplock bag in your freezer for up to 3 months.
  • DESSERT IDEA: These cookie bars are delicious served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Bake the batch of cookie bars in a 9 x 13 inch baking pan lined with parchment paper. Then, when they’re done baking, lift the slab out onto a cutting board. Now cut the cookie slab into about 40 small squares. These cookie bars are rich so we find these 1-inch pieces perfect in size. If you want bigger bars, cut them into bigger pieces.

Handy tip!

If you want to make these cookies bars look fun and extra pretty, add some colourful chocolate covered candies. Before baking the cookie bars, press some chocolate chips, colourful chocolate covered candies (like M&M’s or Smarties), or chocolate chunks, into the top of the dough. This is super fun for different holidays: add red and green for Christmas, red and pink for Valentine’s Day, green for St. Patrick’s Day, pastels for Easter…you get the idea!

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Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

chocolate chip cookie bars cut into squares
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These Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are soft, chewy and chocolaty! Bake the batch in one pan, so you get 40 tasty cookie bars all at once. No waiting for batches of cookies to bake when you make these bars!

  • Author: Jo-Anna Rooney
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 40 cookie bars 1x
  • Category: Cookie
  • Method: Oven

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2/3 cup butter (at room temperature)
  • 2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Line a 9 x 13 baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
  3. In a bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
  4. Using a stand mixer cream the butter and brown sugar until smooth and creamy.
  5. Then beat in the eggs, one at a time.
  6. Mix in the vanilla.
  7. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the butter mixture and mix until just combined. Make sure to scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula a few times.
  8. Stir in the chocolate chips.
  9. Refrigerate the chocolate chip cookie dough for at least 15 minutes. The dough is quite sticky so you must do this step in order to be able to spread the dough into the baking pan.

  10. After the dough has cooled, press it evenly into the prepared baking pan, making sure to spread the dough in an even layer to the edges of the pan.

  11. If you want to press coloured candy or extra chocolate into the top of the slab, do it at this point.
  12. Bake for 30 minutes, until the cookie bar is golden around the edges.
  13. When the bar is done, the sides of the slab will look more puffed up than the centre.
  14. Cool the slab in the pan until it is completely cooled.
  15. Once the slab is has completely cooled, lift it from the pan by holding the parchment paper and lift up. Place it on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut it into 36 – 40 squares.

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Mention @prettysuburbs so I can see what you made!

Recipe adapted only slightly from King Arthur Flour

More delicious bar recipes to try!

a close up top down view of a pan of rhubarb oat bars

​I hope you enjoy these easy cookie bars! Have a delicious day!

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Hi I'm Jo-Anna Rooney, the creator, director, baker, maker and home decorator here at A Pretty Life in the Suburbs! I'm sharing a simple home life through fresh and easy recipes and uncomplicated home tips and home decor.

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15 Comments

  6. This is perfect! Pinned and tweeted. We appreciate you taking the time to party with us! I hope to see you on Monday at 7 pm, so we get to see your fabulous new creations. The party goes until Friday at 7 pm. Happy Sunday! Lou Lou Girls

    Reply