This chocolate chip cookie bar recipe makes perfectly golden brown cookie bars that are soft and chewy. They are packed with as much chocolate as your heart desires! Quickly whip up these cookie bars for an easy dessert that will be a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
The best chocolate chip cookie bars are perfectly soft and chewy! This simple recipe can be quickly mixed for an easy dessert that guarantees a crowd-pleaser. You’ll want to keep this recipe somewhere safe for dinner parties, family gatherings, or bake for a friend…that’s if you feel like sharing!
This recipe is so nostalgic to me. I remember my mom making these chocolate chip cookie bars for any gathering. They were and continue to be the talk of any party. The recipe is just your average chocolate chip cookie recipe, except it swaps out a simple ingredient that makes these cookie bars have the perfect crispy golden brown on the outside and tender and chewy inside.
I know some of you are dying to know the secret ingredient, or you’ve already blown past this to view the recipe card and get to baking. That’s great, but for those of you who have stayed, this recipe substitutes granulated sugar with a package of vanilla pudding mix. The vanilla pudding mix helps keep your cookies moist and produces the perfect soft and chewy center.
Tips For Making Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar Recipe -
- Do not over-bake or over-mix this recipe.
- I recommend a glass Pyrex pan if you have one! The even heat distribution of a glass pan ensures that your cookie bars bake uniformly, resulting in a perfect texture. A dark-coated pan will still work. However, they are too temperamental for me, and I always burn the bottoms of my desserts.
- Let your cookie dough rest for 10-15 minutes before baking to redistribute the liquid. This will help the dough bake and brown more evenly.
Tools You Might Need
- 9×13” Pan
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Kitchen Mixer or Hand Mixer
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Wooden Spoon
- Spatula
Ingredients
- Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Butter
- Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix – 3.4 oz box from your local grocery store
- Brown Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- Eggs
- Chocolate Chips – However many your heart desires!
How To Make Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars -
Before combining the ingredients to make your Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars, preheat your oven to 375 degrees. While your oven is preheating, grease your 9×13” Pan.
Mix your flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Once combined, set aside.
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, vanilla pudding mix, and vanilla extract until nice and creamy (about 2-3 minutes). You can use a stand mixer or a handheld mixer.
Next, you will want to mix in your eggs. Then, add your eggs in one at a time, beating well after each addition.
After your wet ingredients are nice and creamy, you will want to mix in your dry ingredients. Mix in half of your flour mixture. Once just combined, add the last half of dry ingredients and 1 ½ cups of chocolate chips. I fold the last bit of flour and chocolate chips at this stage with a wooden spoon or spatula. I do this to make sure the dough doesn’t get overmixed.
Letting your cookie dough rest for 10-15 minutes before pouring it into your 9×13” Pan allows the ingredients to fully hydrate, resulting in a more consistent texture and better flavor in your cookie bars.
After your dough has rested, spread it out in your greased 9×13” Pan. Once spread evenly in the Pan, sprinkle the last ½ cup of chocolate chips over the top. This will give your cookie bars that “bakery-worthy” look!
Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top browns. Let your cookie bars cool for 10-15 minutes before cutting and serving! Feeling a little extra? Serve your chocolate chip cookie bars slightly warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream over top!
If you try this recipe, let me know by leaving a comment! Love it? Feel free to give it a 5-star rating!
Find More Recipes -
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Equipment
- Casserole Dish
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Kitchen Mixer (or hand mixer)
- Measuring Cups & Spoons
- Wooden Spoon
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 2-1/4 Cup Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 Cup Butter (softened)
- 1 Box Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix (3.4 oz)
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 Large Egg
- 2 Cups Chocolate Chips (divided 1-1/2 cups & 1/2 cup)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
- Grease a 9x13” with butter or oil.
- Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.2-1/4 Cup Unbleached All-Purpose Flour, 1 tsp Baking Soda, 1 tsp Salt
- Beat butter, vanilla pudding mix, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until creamy.1 Cup Butter, 1 Box Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix, 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.2 Large Egg
- Gradually beat in half of the flour mixture. Once combined, add in the rest of the flour mixture. Mix until combined.
- Pour in 1-1/2 cup chocolate chips and fold into the dough by hand with a wooden spoon or spatula.2 Cups Chocolate Chips
- Spread the cookie dough in your prepared baking dish. Once evenly distributed in your 9x13” pan, sprinkle the last ½ cup of chocolate chips on top of the cookie dough.2 Cups Chocolate Chips
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown on top and sides. Let cook for 10-15 minutes & enjoy slightly warmed with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Notes
- Do not over-bake or over-mix this recipe. Who doesn’t love a nice warm chewy cookie!?
- I recommend using a glass or ceramic casserole dish to bake in! A dark-coated pan will still work. However, I avoid dark baking pans or cookie sheets. They tend to cook things faster resulting in burnt dishes.
- Let your cookie dough rest for 10-15 minutes before baking to redistribute the liquid in the dough. This will help the cookie dough to bake and brown more evenly.
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