Want to make cookies, but don’t have a lot of time? These easy chocolate chip cookie bars are the perfect cookie bar recipe to add to your snack agenda. They offer all of the taste of a chocolate chip cookie, but are made in a chocolate chip cookie bar instead of the more labor-intensive drop cookie.
When I was growing up, my mom made many varieties of bar treats for us. We ate a lot of lemon bars, brownies, and chocolate chip cookie bars as snacks. When I would go to my friend’s houses though, their moms made homemade cookies and I would come home and beg my mom to make cookies instead of bars. I never understood why she always made bars for us…until now! Yes, I consider this the world’s most genius cookie shortcut!
Bars are so much easier than cookies and you dirty up a heck of a lot less pans. There is no cooling on racks that has to be done or switching of cookie sheets. All you have to do to make these cookies is mix and dump. Within minutes you can be snacking on a plate full of cookie bars without the mess or work that regular cookies can be.
Looking to achieve a bar cookie with a crisp edge that holds it shape when cut? Try my trick and keep a plastic knife handy in your utensil drawer. You can cut them into perfect squares without the crumby mess, even when they aren’t fully cool.
I think the best part about these is the gooey center where all of the chocolate seems to reside. You get all of the crispness on the outside, with the soft gooey center on the inside. You will find the same delicious delight in my easy homemade granola bars, that happen to be another one of our favorite treats!
These have become my favorite cookies to make and to share with others. I know after you try this recipe, they will be a favorite of yours too!
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 1½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Grease a 9×13″ pan.
- Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, both sugars and vanilla in large mixer bowl.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each.
- Gradually beat flour mixture into butter mixture.
- Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
- Spread into prepared pan. Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
What is your favorite easy cookie or treat to bake for your kids?
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I seem to have a talent for messing up cookies and I learned a long time ago that bars were the way to go. My husband thinks that I just need more practice making cookies to get better at them. What he really means is that he likes cookies better than bars and if I make them more frequently, he’d be happy to eat them, even if they are “mistakes”.
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Have you ever made these in a larger sheet pan? Just wondering if they could work as a cookie cake?
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Amy Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 7:39 am
I’m sorry I have only made these in bar form! I’m not sure about that!
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Good recipe! I like chocolate chips, but I won’t add a whole bag next time. It was too much.
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Amy Reply:
February 28th, 2013 at 4:54 pm
Sorry, I should have modified that! I have decreased to a cup and a half of chips!
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I love cookie bars! That is all
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Amy Reply:
March 13th, 2013 at 6:44 pm
Ha! Me too, Teresa!!
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