Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Published on February 06, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Quick Summary
If you’re a fan of chocolate chip cookies but want a quicker, easier way to enjoy this beloved dessert, chocolate chip cookie bars are the answer. These deliciously chewy, buttery bars combine the best of both worlds—cookie dough and gooey chocolate in every bite! Whether you’re planning a family gathering, a bake sale, or just looking for a quick treat, these bars will not disappoint.
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItTable of Contents
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
- Magic Cookie Bars
- M&M Cookie Bars
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars
- Monster Cookie Bars
- Biscoff Caramel Cookie 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!
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temperature
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups chocolate chips
- Sea salt flakes for sprinkling over bars, optional
Instructions
- 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.
Notes
Store the bars in an airtight container on the counter for up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
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
Have you tried this recipe?
Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram. Tag @twopeasandpod and hashtag it with #twopeasandtheirpod
Love this recipeti! I used a glass 9×13 pan and baked 25 minutes at 325 degrees until light brown on top and edges pulled away. I mixed by hand. My only variation was to add about 1/2 cup of finely chopped pecans. Sea salt on top was delicious! Kids like them best slightly warm with small scoop of ice cream. Great recipe, thanks!
Yum! Made these today and they came out great!
I made these and they were also yum snd came out perfect. I don’t understand how that deserves a three star rating. Five stars all the way. Sea salt on top was the perfect addition!
***UPDATE*** I need to correct my review! I cut them while they were warm and that’s where my “too gooey” comment came in. After I allowed them to cool, I liked them much better. My son LOVED them. He took what was left back to college with him. Lesson learned…don’t review until you’ve allowed a recipe to cool, lol.
could i double this recipe to make them in a jelly roll pan?
Sure, that should be fine!
Can you make these with a hand mixer?
Yes!
Made these with half plain m&ms and half chocolate chips. They were a hit! Everyone loved them!
Made these tonight for our Sunday treat. We loved them. Oh my!! The salt is the best on there. Thanks for sharing this yummy recipe❤️
This is a family favorite. Soon good. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Made these bars on the weekend and they are to die for…crispy on the edges and chewy in the middle…super yummy! I used a combination of semi-sweet and white chocolate. This is a keeper and will definitely be baking a batch to bring to our grandkids. Love so many of your recipes and pics/stories of your sweet children!
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed the cookie bars.
Loved these bars
Easy and delicious! I don’t have a stand mixer, and I had to supplement with coconut sugar bc I ran out of granulated sugar and they were still
Thank you for the recipe!
I made these for coffee hour at church. Everyone loved them including my husband who says chocolate chip cookies should be round. I did not change anything in the recipe, but from another source I decided to line the pan with heavy duty aluminum foil extending the edges to remove the cookie before cutting. I’m not sure that was necessary. Also, a friend suggested cutting the squares diagonally to make smaller cookies. They were the perfect size. I will be frequently making these cookies especially for group functions.
I wanted to thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe. It is so easy to make and the results are always delicious! I have made this recipe so many times over the years that I know it by heart. Recently, I made them using Heath bar chips with chocolate and that small change was greeted with lots of enthusiasm by my family. Again, thanks Maria for sharing these recipes that are both uncomplicated and delicious.
Made these for the first time today, and they are AMAZING!!! I bake a lot, and have many recipes–but this one was an instant favorite. My husband said “I’d be happy if you only baked these.” Thanks so much for a wonderful recipe! : )
I am so happy you loved the recipe.
I cooked these for 25 minutes. They are tasty but are a little crunchier or “harder” than I would prefer. Does this mean I should bake them less – maybe 20 minutes? I want them to be done, just moister.
Yes, try less time, every oven is different. Check early to be safe.
Could I halve this recipe and bake in an 8×8 pan?
Yes!
These are excellent. I used 1 cup of butter instead of 3/4 cup (accidentally added too much) and they were very chewy. I also mixed semi sweet and milk chocolate chips and sprinkled sea salt flakes on top making these very delicious. I baked them under the time noted in recipe. Will make these again.
Glad you loved the bars!
Made these for our priests and church staff. Very easy and delicious – thanks for a great recipe!
Such a great dessert for taking to parties and potlucks!
Could you make the dough ahead, refrigerate it, & then bake the next day?
Yes!
Coming back to make these a second time! My kids liked them so much that one of them asked me to keep making the bars instead of regular cookies. Definitely sticking to this recipe for here on out! You did a great job, thanks Maria!!
The bars are so fun and easy too!
The best chocolate chip cookie bars!!!
Yay!
The best chocolate chip cookie bars.
They really are!
Absolutely DELICIOUS!!! 10/10 will be making again!
Yahoo!
Has anyone tried making these with flax or chia eggs?
I haven’t tried it, but that should work.