Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

The smell of brown sugar melting into butter still takes me back to my first apartment, where the kitchen was barely large enough to turn around in but somehow always produced the most incredible things. My roommate and I started making these cookie bars because we couldnt afford individual cookies for our weekly movie nights, and they became such a hit that people started showing up at our door unannounced on baking nights.

I once brought these to a potluck where they were gone before I could even get a plate myself. The host texted me the next day asking for the recipe because her husband had eaten three bars for breakfast and declared them the best thing shed ever made.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour: The foundation of that classic cookie texture you remember from childhood
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda: Just enough lift to keep the bars from being too dense
• 1/2 teaspoon salt: Balances all that sweetness and brings out the chocolate flavor
• 1 cup unsalted butter, melted: Melting the butter instead of creaming it creates that irresistible chewy texture
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed: The secret to moist, rich bars that stay soft for days
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar: Adds just enough crispness to the edges
• 2 large eggs: Room temperature eggs blend seamlessly into the melted butter mixture
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract: Dont skimp here—good vanilla makes all the difference
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips: Use the best quality you can find for those gooey pockets of chocolate

Instructions

Preheat your oven:

Set it to 350°F and line your 9x13-inch pan with parchment paper, letting the edges hang over so you can lift the bars out later

Whisk the dry ingredients:

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl and set it aside

Mix the butter and sugars:

Whisk the melted butter with both sugars until completely smooth

Add eggs and vanilla:

Beat them into the butter mixture until everything is well combined

Combine everything:

Fold in the dry ingredients just until you no longer see streaks of flour

Add the chocolate chips:

Fold them in gently so theyre evenly distributed throughout the dough

Spread and bake:

Press the dough into your prepared pan and bake for 22 to 25 minutes until the edges are golden and a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs

Cool completely:

This is the hardest part but letting them cool ensures clean cuts and the perfect texture

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My sister now makes these for every school bake sale because theyre impossible to mess up and always sell out first. Theres something about a bar cookie that feels more substantial, more satisfying, than a regular cookie.

Getting That Perfect Texture

The magic happens because we melt the butter instead of creaming it with sugar. This creates a denser, chewier texture that people cant quite put their finger on but keep coming back to.

Making Them Your Own

Ive tried adding dried cherries, swapping in dark chocolate chunks, and even folding in toffee bits. Each variation creates something new while keeping that same reliable bar base.

Storage and Serving Tips

These bars actually taste better on day two, so dont hesitate to make them ahead. The flavors meld together beautifully overnight.

• Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top before baking for a fancy touch
• Warm individual bars in the microwave for 10 seconds before serving
• Cut them while slightly cool but not completely cold for the cleanest edges

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Theres nothing quite like the silence that falls over a room when someone takes their first bite of a warm, chocolatey bar fresh from the oven. Happy baking.

Recipe Questions & Answers

→ What type of chocolate works best?

Semisweet chocolate chips provide a balanced sweetness and melt evenly throughout the bars. You can also try milk or dark chips for variation.

→ How do I ensure chewy bars?

Using melted butter and a combination of brown and granulated sugar helps create a moist, chewy texture.

→ Can I add nuts to the batter?

Yes, chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans can be folded in for added crunch and flavor.

→ What is the ideal baking temperature and time?

Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 22–25 minutes, until edges turn golden and a toothpick shows a few moist crumbs.

→ How should I store the baked bars?

Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.