Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Recipe (With Video)

Prep Time:

15 mins

Cook Time:

25 mins

Total Time:

40 mins

Servings:

42

Yield:

3 1/2 dozen bars

Crisp and buttery, these chocolate chip cookie bars have all the flavor of the classic cookie you know and love, but in a fun-to-eat, on-the-go-friendly form. Our recipe makes over three dozen pieces, making it perfect for feeding a crowd or bringing to a bake sale. You’ll need an electric mixer for the dough and a rimmed baking sheet to bake them on. And since there’s no scooping or portioning involved, they're ready for the oven in record time. Pair them with an ice-cold glass of milk for dipping—and prepare to return to this recipe again and again.

Chocolate chip cookie bars arranged on parchment paper next to a bowl of chocolate chips — Brie Goldman

Tips for Making Chocolate Chip Bars

Let your butter sit at room temperature for at least an hour to thoroughly soften before beginning this recipe; it will combine much more easily with the sugar that way.
When spreading the dough over the baking sheet, aim for as even a layer as possible. (An offset spatula is a great tool for this.) That will ensure the bars are evenly cooked from edge to edge without any overdone or underdone spots.
Don't over-bake these bars or you'll risk them drying out. The dough is baked when the top and edges are brown, and the top is golden. It should feel mostly set with still a bit of softness toward the center, which will continue to firm up as the cookie cools.

The Right Pan for This Recipe

For bars that are neither too thick nor too thin, use a 12-inch by 17-inch rimmed baking sheet (known as a half-sheet pan). We don't recommend using a smaller, deeper pan—like a 9-by-13 baking dish—as it will require a significantly longer bake time and result in much thicker bars.

Cutting the bars: These bars are equally delicious cut into squares or rectangles. Rectangles are superior for dipping, while squares provide more of a classic, bar-cookie shape.

Directions

Ingredients for chocolate chip cookie bars including flour sugar chocolate chips butter eggs vanilla and baking powder — Brie Goldman

Preheat oven, prep baking sheet, and combine dry ingredients:

Preheat oven to 350°F, with rack in center. Generously butter a 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

Brie Goldman
Cream butter and sugar; add eggs and vanilla:

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla; mix until well combined.

Brie Goldman
Add dry ingredients, then mix in chips:

Add flour mixture; beat on low speed until just combined. Beat in chocolate chips.

Brie Goldman
Spread dough in baking sheet, bake, cool, and cut into bars:

Spread dough evenly over prepared baking sheet. Bake, rotating sheet halfway through, until edges are brown and top is golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely in baking sheet. Use a serrated knife to cut into 1 1/2-by-4-inch rectangles or 3-inch squares.

Brie Goldman

Tip

It's okay if the center of the cookie seems underbaked; it will continue to firm up from the heat of the pan as it sits.

Brie Goldman

How to Store These Bars

Like cookies, these bars can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days or be refrigerated for up to 1 week. For longer storage, transfer bars to a resealable freezer bag and freeze for up to 1 month.

Variation

To dress up your chocolate chip cookie bars, dip half of each in melted chocolate (milk, dark, or white all work well). Top with chopped nuts or sprinkles, if desired. Let sit at 1 to 2 hours at room temperature to harden before moving.

5 More Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes to Try

Updated by

Esther Reynolds

Explore more:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Tips for Making Chocolate Chip Bars

The Right Pan for This Recipe

Directions

Preheat oven, prep baking sheet, and combine dry ingredients:

Cream butter and sugar; add eggs and vanilla:

Add dry ingredients, then mix in chips:

Spread dough in baking sheet, bake, cool, and cut into bars:

Tip

How to Store These Bars

Variation

5 More Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes to Try

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