Are you craving your favorite chocolate chip cookie, but want one with half of the work? These easy chewy chocolate chip cookie bars are soft, packed with chocolate chips and are a super easy way to enjoy chocolate chip cookies with less work and less mess! Made with pantry ingredients like brown sugar, flour, and butter, you can eat these cookies today!
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Below you will find tips, tricks and helpful hints for making this recipe including step by step instructions with pictures. If you would like to go directly to the recipe, scroll down to the recipe card.
I love a good chocolate chip cookie, but sometimes there just isn’t enough time to bake multiple batches of cookies.
The great thing about making chocolate chip cookie bars, is that you can cut out half of the work, and time, but putting all of the delicious cookie dough into one pan, so it bakes all at once!
What is a Cookie Bar?
A cookie bar is made when you bake cookie dough spread out in an 8×8 or 9×13 baking dish instead of as a cookie. When the bars are done baking and have cooled, they can be cut into squares or rectangles.
Why Make Cookie Bars?
Cookie bars are a great way to make cookies because you don’t have to worry about forming them into balls and then flattening them out – the dough just goes into the pan and bakes that way. This is also a great way to make a big batch of cookies for a party or potluck!
How Do You Know When Cookie Bars are Done?
These chocolate chip cookie bars will be baked for about 25-30 minutes. You will know that the cookie bars are done when the edges begin to brown and the center of is set.
You can also test to see if they are done by inserting a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, they’re done!
How To Store Cookie Bars
The best way to store chewy chocolate chip cookie bars, is in an airtight container for 5-7 days at room temperature.
Can you freeze cookie bars?
Yes, you can freeze cookie bars! I recommend cutting the cookies into bars and wrapping the individually in plastic wrap before freezing. They should last up to 3 months in the freezer.
How to Cut Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
The easiest way to cut these bars is to leave them in the 9×13 pan and cut and serve them from there.
If you want the cookie bars to have a more uniform look, you can place parchment paper in the pan before baking, then remove the cookies. Cut off the edges then cut the remaining cookie into bars.
What Makes a Chocolate Chip Cookie Chewy or Hard?
There are a few things that determine if cookies will come out chewy or not. One is the sugar to butter ratio. If there is more sugar than butter, cookies will be chewier.
The other is the baking temperature and time. If you bake cookies at a higher temperature for a shorter amount of time, they will come out chewier. If you bake them at a lower temperature for a longer amount of time, they will be harder.
What Size Pan is Used for Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars?
For this recipe, you will use a 9×13 baking dish. I always use a glass Pyrex-style baking dish, but you can find more options for baking here.
What is the Best Brand of Chocolate Chips to Make Chocolate Chip Cookies?
I have been making chocolate chip cookies for many years and have tried a lot of different brands of chocolate chips. My all-time favorite brand to make chocolate chip cookies is Ghirardelli.
They make a really good, rich chocolate chip cookie. You can use semi-sweet chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or milk chocolate chips in this recipe with great results.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Measuring Cups and Measuring Spoons
- Mixing Bowl
- Wooden Spoon
- Whisk
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper Sheets
- Small Serving Spatula
- Cooling Rack
Ingredients for Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
*Ingredient amounts are located in the recipe card at the end of this post.
All-Purpose Flour- Standard all-purpose flour is used to make chewy chocolate chip cookie bars.
White Sugar- White sugar is used in this recipe to make the cookie bars a bit more chewy.
Brown Sugar- Brown sugar is a staple in chocolate chip cookies and is used in this recipe to add moisture and chewiness to the bars.
Salt- Salt is added to the dough to enhance the flavor of the cookies.
Baking Soda- Baking soda helps to leaven the cookies and makes them softer and chewier.
Vanilla Extract- Vanilla extract is used to add flavor to the bars. I prefer to use pure vanilla extract, but imitation vanilla will work as well.
Butter- Unsalted or salted butter can be used in this recipe, whatever you prefer.
Eggs- Eggs are used in this recipe to add moisture and richness to the cookie bars.
Chocolate Chips- Chocolate chips are a must in any chocolate chip cookie recipe! I like to use semisweet chocolate chips in these bars, but you can definitely use milk chocolate chips, or a mix of the two.
How to Make Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
[1] Add the flour, salt, and baking soda to a mixing bowl and whisk together.
[2] In the bowl of a stand mixer, or with a hand mixer, add the softened butter, white sugar, and brown sugar and beat together.
[3] Mix in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
[4] Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until combined.
[5] Stir in the chocolate chips.
[6] Place the cookie dough in a greased 9×13 baking dish and spread with a spatula.
[7] Bake the chewy chocolate chip cookie bars at 325 degrees for 28-30 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown and the center is set.
[8] Remove the pan from the oven and place on a cooling rack. Allow the cookies to cool before being cut and served.
More Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes:
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Hilton DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookies Official Recipe
- S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Almond Joy Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Disneyland’s Raspberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies
So what are you waiting for? Whip up a batch of these easy chocolate chip cookie bars today. They’re sure to be a hit with your friends and family! And if you do make them, be sure to let me know what you think in the comments below. I love hearing from you all.
Watch the Video:
Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
These easy chewy chocolate chip cookie bars are soft, packed with chocolate chips and are a super easy way to enjoy chocolate chip cookies with less work and less mess! Made with pantry ingredients like brown sugar, flour, and butter, you can eat these cookies today!
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 3/4 Cup Sugar
- 3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1-1 1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 1 1/2 Cups Butter, softened
- 2 Eggs
- 2 Cups Chocolate Chips
Instructions
- Add the flour, salt, and baking soda to a mixing bowl and whisk together.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, or with a hand mixer, add the softened butter, white sugar, and brown sugar and beat together.
- Mix in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
- Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until combined.
- Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Place the cookie dough in a greased 9x13 baking dish and spread with a spatula.
- Bake the chewy chocolate chip cookie bars at 325 degrees for 28-30 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown and the center is set.
- Remove the pan from the oven and place on a cooling rack. Allow the cookies to cool before being cut and served.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 18 Serving Size: 1 Cookie BarAmount Per Serving: Calories: 356Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 322mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 2gSugar: 26gProtein: 3g
