Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
In short: Chocolate chip cookie dough pressed into one pan and baked into thick, chewy bars with golden edges. One pan feeds 24 people with no scooping. It takes about 39 min in total and makes 24 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 24 min
- Resting
- 45 min
- Total
- 39 min
- Servings
- 24
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 240 kcal
Chocolate chip cookie bars are cookie dough baked in one pan and cut into squares, so you skip the scooping and the batch-by-batch baking. They are the practical answer when you need dessert for a crowd: one pan feeds 24 people and takes about 15 minutes of effort. The edges turn crisp and golden while the center stays thick and chewy. Take them out while the middle still looks a little underdone.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a 23 x 33 cm (9 x 13 in) pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the long sides.
- Beat the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar for 3 minutes, until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla.
- Whisk the flour, baking soda and salt together. Stir them into the butter mixture until just combined, then fold in 250 g of the chocolate chips.
- Press the dough into the pan in an even layer with damp fingers or an offset spatula. Scatter the remaining chocolate over the top and press it in lightly.
- Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the center looks set but still soft. A toothpick should come out with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool in the pan for at least 45 minutes. Lift out using the parchment and cut into 24 bars.
Tips
- Underbake slightly. The bars keep cooking in the hot pan, and the center should still look soft when you take them out.
- Swap part of the chocolate for 150 g (1 cup) of chopped nuts, toffee bits or crushed pretzels for a different texture.
Questions and answers
Can I turn my favorite cookie dough into bars?
Usually yes. Press the dough into a lined 23 x 33 cm (9 x 13 in) pan and bake at 180°C (350°F) for 20 to 25 minutes, checking for golden edges and a set center.
How do I get thick, chewy cookie bars?
Use brown sugar, measure the flour by weight and pull the pan while the center is still a bit soft. Let the bars cool fully in the pan before cutting.
How far ahead can I make cookie bars?
Bake them up to 4 days ahead and store them airtight. They also freeze well for 3 months.
How long does it take to make Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars?
About 39 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 24 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars?
About 240 kcal per serving, with 2 g of protein, 30 g of carbohydrates and 12 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 240 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 30 g |
| Fat | 12 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 19 g |
| Sodium | 160 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
