These Ultimate Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars have golden edges, a soft, buttery center, and plenty of melty chocolate chips in every bite. They deliver everything you love about classic chocolate chip cookies-but there’s no need to chill the dough or shape individual cookies.
Made with melted butter and brown sugar, these easy cookie bars come together in one bowl and bake in a single pan. They’re perfect for parties, lunchboxes, family gatherings, or whenever you’re craving a warm, homemade chocolate treat.
The extra egg yolk gives these bars their signature chewy texture, while a small amount of cornstarch helps keep them tender for days. For the best results, allow the melted butter to cool slightly before mixing it with the sugars, and avoid overbaking-the center should still look slightly soft when the pan comes out of the oven.
If you love homemade cookies, you may also enjoy my Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies. You can also learn more about the role each ingredient plays in this helpful cookie chemistry guide from King Arthur Baking.
Quick Recipe Info
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Bake Time: 25-30 minutes
- Total Time: 35-40 minutes
- Servings: 12 cookie bars
- Oven Temperature: 350°F (175°C)
- Pan Size: 9 × 9-inch baking pan
- Difficulty: Easy
Why You’ll Love These Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Soft and chewy texture: The extra egg yolk and cornstarch help create a tender center with perfectly chewy edges.
- Quick and easy: The dough comes together in minutes with simple pantry ingredients.
- No chilling required: Mix the dough, spread it into the pan, and bake-no waiting or shaping individual cookies.
- Loaded with chocolate chips: Every bar is filled with rich, melty chocolate in every bite.
- Perfect for sharing: Baked in one 9-inch square pan, these bars are easy to slice and serve for parties, gatherings, or an everyday treat.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are made with simple pantry staples that create the perfect soft, chewy texture and rich chocolate flavor.
All-purpose flour: Provides structure while keeping the cookie bars soft and thick.
Baking soda: Helps the bars rise slightly and creates lightly golden edges.
Cornstarch: Keeps the center tender and contributes to the wonderfully soft texture.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the chocolate and vanilla flavors.
Unsalted butter: Melted butter gives the bars a rich, buttery flavor. Let it cool slightly before mixing.
Light brown sugar: Adds moisture, caramel notes, and the signature chewy texture.
Granulated sugar: Helps create lightly crisp edges and balances the moisture from the brown sugar.
Egg and egg yolk: The whole egg binds the dough, while the additional yolk adds richness and chewiness.
Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and enhances the buttery chocolate flavor.
Semisweet chocolate chips: Create plenty of rich, melty chocolate pockets throughout the bars.
How to Make Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
These Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are easy to prepare, but chilling the dough and allowing the baked bars to cool are important for achieving a thick, soft, and chewy texture.
1. Prepare the Oven and Butter
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Melt the butter, then set it aside for about 5 minutes to cool slightly. The butter should still be liquid, but not hot.
2. Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt until evenly combined. Set the bowl aside.
3. Mix the Wet Ingredients
In a separate large bowl, combine the slightly cooled melted butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Whisk until smooth and well blended. Add the whole egg, extra egg yolk, and vanilla extract, then mix again until the mixture is glossy and completely combined.
4. Make the Cookie Dough
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix just until a thick, even dough forms and no dry streaks of flour remain. Avoid overmixing, as this can make the baked bars less tender.
5. Add the Chocolate Chips and Chill
Fold in the chocolate chips, making sure they are evenly distributed throughout the dough. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for 1 hour. Chilling helps the dough firm up and gives the bars a thicker, chewier texture.
6. Transfer the Dough to the Pan
Line a 9-inch square baking pan (23 × 23 cm) with parchment paper, leaving some overhang along the sides for easy removal. Transfer the chilled dough to the prepared pan and press it into an even layer. Sprinkle a few additional chocolate chips over the top.
7. Bake
Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the center is set but still slightly soft. Be careful not to overbake-the bars will continue to firm up as they cool.
8. Cool and Slice
Remove the pan from the oven and let the cookie bars cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes. Use the parchment-paper overhang to carefully lift them from the pan. For a sweet-and-salty finish, sprinkle the top lightly with flaky sea salt, then cut into evenly sized squares and serve.
Serving and Enjoying
Serve these Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars slightly warm for the softest texture and deliciously melty chocolate chips. Enjoy them on their own with a cold glass of milk, or pair them with coffee or tea for a cozy afternoon treat. For an extra-indulgent dessert, top each bar with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of warm chocolate sauce.
How to Store and Freeze
Store completely cooled Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Place parchment paper between the layers to prevent them from sticking. For an extra-soft texture, warm an individual bar in the microwave for about 10 seconds before serving.
To freeze, wrap each bar tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe container or resealable bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw the bars at room temperature for 1-2 hours or warm them briefly in the microwave before enjoying.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I have to chill the cookie dough?
Yes. Refrigerating the dough for 1 hour helps prevent excessive spreading and gives the Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars a thicker, chewier texture.
How do I know when the cookie bars are done?
The edges should be lightly golden, and the center should look set but still slightly soft. Avoid overbaking because the bars will continue to firm up as they cool.
Can I use a different type of chocolate?
Absolutely. You can use milk, dark, or semisweet chocolate chips-or combine several varieties. Chopped chocolate also works well and creates larger melted chocolate pockets.
Why are my cookie bars dry?
Dry cookie bars are usually caused by adding too much flour or baking them too long. Measure the flour carefully and remove the bars from the oven while the center is still slightly soft.
Can I make these cookie bars ahead of time?
Yes. You can prepare the dough, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Let it sit at room temperature briefly if it becomes too firm to spread in the pan.
How long should I wait before slicing them?
Allow the bars to cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes. For the cleanest squares, let them cool completely before lifting them out and slicing.
Nutrition Per Serving
Based on 16 cookie bars, each serving contains approximately:
- Calories: 270 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Sugar: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary depending on the brands and exact ingredients used.
Conclusion
These Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars combine everything you love about classic chocolate chip cookies in an easy, shareable dessert. With golden edges, soft and chewy centers, and plenty of chocolate chips in every bite, they’re perfect for family gatherings, celebrations, or whenever you’re craving something sweet. Enjoy them slightly warm, topped with flaky sea salt, or served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
I hope you enjoy baking and sharing these delicious cookie bars with your family and friends.
Happy baking!
Ultimate Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Melt the butter and let it cool for approximately 5 minutes. It should remain liquid but should not be hot.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the slightly cooled melted butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth and well combined.Add the whole egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and glossy.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
- Mix just until a thick cookie dough forms and no dry streaks of flour remain. Do not overmix.Fold in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate the cookie dough for 1 hour.
- Line a 9-inch square baking pan (23 x 23 cm) with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang on the sides to lift out the baked bars.
- Transfer the chilled dough to the prepared pan and press it into a smooth, even layer. Sprinkle a few additional chocolate chips over the top.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the center is set but still looks slightly soft. Avoid overbaking because the bars will continue to firm up while cooling.
- Remove the pan from the oven and allow the cookie bars to cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes.
- Lift the bars from the pan using the parchment-paper overhang. Sprinkle lightly with flaky sea salt, if desired, and cut into 12 equal squares.
One comment