Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Chewy chocolate chip cookie bars are a quick, easy, and lazy version of classic Chocolate Chip Cookies that take half the prep time (no scooping cookie dough here!). They are soft and chewy, have perfect crisp edges and a gooey center, and are loaded with chocolate chips.

This one bowl cookie bar recipe comes together in just 10 minutes with a handful of baking pantry staples before ready to bake. It's the easiest way to bake cookies ever. Plus, it's easy to make ahead and freezer-friendly too!

Why You’ll Love Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

• A twist on classic chocolate chip cookies. These chocolate chip cookie bars have everything you would want in a chocolate chip cookie — soft and chewy centers with the perfect crispy edges. Plus, these cookie bars are thicker than your average cookie making the centers extra gooey and delicious. So so good.
• It's a quick one bowl recipe. All you need to make easy chocolate chip cookie bars is 10 minutes of prep, one bowl, and a few basic baking ingredients that you likely already have in your pantry. Then pop them into the oven for 30 minutes before they're ready to eat. Try them once and these may very well become your go to when you need to satisfy a late night sugar craving.
• Cookie bars are easier to make than cookies. Baking cookies is always fun, especially when you get the kids involved. But, it does take a little more prep work to scoop out each cookie or to roll our cookies and cut them. With lazy cookie bars, there is no need to shape them or bring out extra cookie trays to bake in batches. All you need is to transfer the cookie dough to a 8-inch square baking pan, then and slice.

Ingredients and Substitutions

To make these easy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars, you will need the following ingredients (full quantities in the recipe card below):

• butter - make sure to use softened butter, otherwise it won’t cream properly with the sugar and the cookie bars won’t have that classic chocolate chip cookie texture.
• sugar - both light brown sugar and granulated sugar are required in these cookie bars.
• egg
• all-purpose flour
• baking soda
• salt
• chocolate chips - I used semi-sweet chocolate chips, but feel free to use your favorite kind. You can also use mini chocolate chips or chocolate chunks.

Equipment

You will also need:

• measuring cups and spoons
• mixing bowl
• hand mixer or stand mixer
• 8-inch square baking pan

How to Make the Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

1. Make the cookie dough. In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer cream together butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla, and beat on low until incorporated. Add flour, baking soda, and salt and beat until just combined. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the chocolate chips (for the top). Fold in the rest.

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2. Transfer to baking pan. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray oil and line it with a piece of parchment paper, allowing the overhang to come off the 2 sides. Spread the cookie dough onto the lined pan. Press in the remaining chocolate chips on top.
3. Bake. Bake in a 375F preheated oven for 30-35 minutes until golden brown, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The cookie dough may not look completely done in the middle, but they will continue to cook as they are cooling.
4. Serve. Allow it to cool completely in the pan. Then, use the parchment paper overhang to pull them out. Slice into 16 pieces and serve.

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How to Serve

Enjoy these soft and chewy chocolate chip cookie bars warm right out of the oven with a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream, and dig in with a spoon. Or allow them to cool down a bit and slice up and enjoy over the next few days or weeks to come (depending on how you store them). Plus, you can quickly reheat them in the microwave and enjoy warm any time you want.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

• How to store: Store easy chocolate chip cookie bars in an airtight container or wrap them individually in plastic wrap. Eat within 4 days if stored at room temperature, and within 7 days if stored in the fridge.
• How to freeze: You can also freeze chocolate cookie bars for up to 3 months. Let them cool completely first, then slice and store in an airtight container or freezer bag. To thaw, leave them in the fridge overnight.
• Make ahead instructions: You can make the chocolate chip cookie dough up to 2-3 days in advance. Cover the bowl with plastic cling wrap when storing. When ready to bake, allow the dough to come to room temperature (about 20 minutes) before spreading onto the prepared baking pan.
• How to freeze cookie dough: You can also freeze the cookie dough by rolling it into a ball and wrapping tightly in plastic cling wrap and placing inside a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, allow the cookie dough to thaw overnight in the refrigerator, and allow it to come to room temperature before baking, according to recipe instructions.

More Bar Recipes

• M&M Cookie Bars
• Fudgy Brownies
• Pecan Pie Bars
• Easter Blondies
• Mini Egg Cookie Bars
• Flourless Banana Brownies

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