Description
Sweet memories of childhood come alive with classic chocolate chip cookie bars, a nostalgic dessert that blends rich buttery goodness with melted chocolate morsels. Crisp edges and chewy centers make these bars irresistible, promising comfort and pure delight in every single bite you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 2 sticks (8 ounces / 226 grams) unsalted butter
- 2 1/4 cups dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
Topping:
- Flaky sea salt (for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 9×13-inch metal baking pan by lining it with parchment paper, allowing excess paper to hang over the edges for easy removal. Lightly grease the parchment surface.
- In a medium mixing bowl, thoroughly combine flour, baking powder, and salt using a whisk until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Create a smooth wet mixture by whisking brown sugar, granulated sugar, and melted butter in a large bowl until fully blended. Incorporate vanilla and eggs, mixing until the texture becomes uniform.
- Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a rubber spatula, stopping when only a few flour streaks remain. Add chocolate chips and fold carefully to distribute evenly without overmixing the dough.
- Transfer the cookie dough to the prepared pan, spreading it uniformly across the surface. Delicately press additional chocolate chips on top of the dough.
- Bake for 18-25 minutes, monitoring until edges turn light golden brown and the center appears slightly puffy. Immediately after removing from the oven, sprinkle flaky sea salt over the hot surface.
- Allow bars to cool in the pan for approximately 45 minutes at room temperature. For faster cooling, refrigerate. Once barely warm, lift the bars out using parchment paper overhang and slice into desired shapes.
Notes
- Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture just until combined to maintain a tender, soft texture without developing tough gluten strands.
- Try different chocolate chip varieties like dark, milk, or white chocolate, or mix multiple types for a unique flavor profile.
- Sprinkle flaky sea salt immediately after baking to create a delightful sweet-savory contrast that elevates the classic chocolate chip cookie experience.
- Substitute gluten-free flour blend for traditional flour and use dairy-free butter alternative to make these bars suitable for various dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg