What do you do when you needed chocolate chip cookies like yesterday?? Chocolate chip cookie bars, that’s what. These are WAY easier than individual cookies (not that cookies are hard) because there is no scooping or switching cookie sheets, it’s all in one pan. Which makes for even softer, gooier (with plenty of warm, melted chocolate) chocolate chip cookie bars. Yum. These are my answer for impromptu play dates, or quick desserts when we just must have something yummy and gooey (we eat them right out of the pan warm) or when someone in my life has forgotten to mention that they signed me up to bake something…not that such things ever happen!

There is even the version that my kids bake up with white chocolate chips, smarties and a ridiculous amount of sprinkles. These are completely adaptable. My personal fave is a double batch baked in stoneware, with milk chocolate chips (I am a purest) and a generous sprinkling of course salt on top. Second place is definitely with mini Reeces Pieces swapped out for the chocolate chips.

Anyways if you dare to bake these and accept them into your repertoire of recipes, be warned that they will be there to stay. There is no going back once you know these exist. Sorry. Not sorry.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Ingredients

Butter – 1/2 Cup Butter, melted

1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup White Sugar

1 teaspoon Vanilla

1 Cup Flour

1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder

1/2 teaspoon Salt

1/8 teaspoon Baking Soda

1 Egg

3/4 Cup Chocolate Chips (Reeces Pieces or a combination of chocolate chips, smarties, m and m’s and sprinkles…)

Step 1:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2:

Begin by using a microwavable bowl. Place butter in bowl and melt.

Step 3:

Use a pastry brush to coat a 9-inch square baking pan with melted butter.

Step 4:

Whisk in sugars and vanilla in melted butter.

Step 5:

Stir in flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda.

Step 6:

Mix in an egg. Yes, that’s right AFTER the flour and other dry ingredients. Mix until well incorporated.

Step 7:

Add in chocolate chips, reserving several for sprinkling on top.

Step 8:

Spread batter into pan evenly and sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top.

Step 9:

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 -25 minutes, depending on your oven, until the edges are slightly brown and the centre is set. I did 22 minutes. Don’t overcook these bars, otherwise they will be more like blondies and less like cookies. A toothpick in the centre will NOT  come out clean.

Step 10:

Allow these bars to cool at least 10 minutes (an eternity while everyone stares at them…) before diving in. If hoping to cut and remove from pan in dignified manner, chill in the fridge first.

Enjoy!

Note: This recipe makes a 9″ X 9″ square, but can be doubled for an 11 X 16 pan.

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Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

An unbelievelaby delicious cookie in bar form.

Course Dessert

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 22 minutes

Author Laura Crawford

Ingredients

• 1/2 Cup Butter melted
• 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1/2 Cup White Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1 Cup Flour
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1/8 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 Egg
• 3/4 Cup Chocolate Chips Reeces Pieces or a combination of chocolate chips, smarties, m and m's and sprinkles…
• Pinch Course Sea Salt optional

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Using a microwavable bowl. Place butter in bowl and melt.
3. Use a pastry brush to coat a 9-inch square baking pan with melted butter.
4. Whisk in sugars and vanilla in melted butter.
5. Stir in flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda.
6. Mix in an egg. Yes, that’s right AFTER the flour and other dry ingredients. Mix until well incorporated.
7. Add in chocolate chips, reserving several for sprinkling on top.

8. Spread batter into pan evenly and sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top. Add a dusting of coarse salt (if desired).

9. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 -25 minutes, depending on your oven, until the edges are slightly brown and the centre is set. I did 22 minutes. Don’t overcook these bars, otherwise they will be more like blondies and less like cookies. A toothpick in the centre will NOT  come out clean.

10. Allow these bars to cool at least 10 minutes (an eternity while everyone stares at them…) before diving in. If hoping to cut and remove from pan in a dignified manner, allow to cool completely first.

Recipe Notes

This recipe makes a 8″ X 8″ square, but can be doubled for an 9 X 13 pan.

A light sprinkling of flaked sea salt before going in the oven is definitely not out of line!

In search of more chocolate cookies?!

Check out my Triple Chocolate Cookies

Or these cheeky Clever Cookies