Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are quick, deliciously rich, soft, chewy, and loaded with chocolate.

These bars are so much faster than cookies to make yet are just as delicious! 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars cut into squares.

  1. Quick and Easy: They’re faster to make than traditional cookies, saving time and effort.
  2. Delicious Texture: Rich, soft, and chewy with the perfect amount of chocolate.
  3. Simple Recipe: Requires just a bowl, a spoon.
  4. Maple Syrup: Adds a unique softness, chewiness, and subtle maple flavor.
  5. Versatile: Easily customizable with different chocolates, add-ins, or frostings.

Butter and sugars being combined, then eggs, vanilla, and maple syrup being added.

Ingredients

  • Butter: Adds moisture and chewiness.
  • Brown & White Sugar: Adds sweetness; brown sugar enhances chewiness.
  • Egg & Yolk: Binds and enriches for softness.
  • Vanilla & Maple Syrup: Boosts flavor and moisture.
  • Flour: Provides structure.
  • Baking Soda: Leavens for soft texture.
  • Salt: Enhances flavor.
  • Chocolate Chips: Adds chocolatey sweetness.

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F; line and spray a 9×13-inch pan.
  2. Cool melted butter; blend with sugars, egg, yolk, vanilla, maple syrup.
  3. Gently mix in flour, baking soda, salt; fold in chocolate chips.
  4. Spread dough in pan; bake 23-28 minutes until lightly golden.
  5. Cool, cut into bars, and serve.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars square being held up.

Variation Ideas

  • Customize Chocolate: Use semi-sweet or dark chocolate for less sweetness, or mix chocolate types for varied flavors.
  • Add-ins: Swap some chocolate for M&M’s or mix in sprinkles.
  • Frosting: Top chocolate chip cookie bars with chocolate buttercream, peanut butter, or cream cheese frosting for extra flavor.
  • Nuts Addition: Mix in chopped walnuts or pecans for a crunchy texture and nutty flavor.

Storage

  • Room Temperature: Store bars in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
  • Freezing: Wrap bars individually and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

5 from 6 votes

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are simple, irresistibly rich, soft, chewy, and packed with chocolate.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 24 bars

Equipment

  • Baking pan 9 x 13-inch

Ingredients 
 

  • 12 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 1 cup light brown sugar lightly packed
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk see note 1
  • 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup optional, see note 2
  • 2-1/4 cups flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1-1/4 cup chocolate chips
  • Maldon sea salt optional

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 325ยฐF. Spray a 9 x 13-inch pan with cooking spray, line with parchment paper and leave an overhang for easy removal. Melt butter in microwave and set aside to cool to room temperature. If it is too hot it will melt the sugars and cause greasy bars.
  • Whisk melted butter and sugars until smooth. Add egg, yolk, vanilla, and syrup. Whisk until smooth and emulsified.
  • Use a wooden spoon to stir in baking soda, salt, and flour until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips. If needed, switch to electric hand mixers, but don't over mix. Press dough evenly into pan. If desired, press a few more chocolate chips into the top.
  • Bake for 23-28 minutes until top isn't glossy and edges are lightly golden. Be careful not to over-bake. Optionally top with sea salt right out of the oven. Fully cool in pan, lift out, cut, and serve.

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: You can discard egg white or save and add it to breakfast the next morning. I love this Egg Skillet, or you could use it in my favorite Egg Wrap.ย 
Note 2: Maple syrup is the secret ingredient in these bars. In a pinch, you can leave it out, but the bars do lack a bit of tenderness and a certain level of sweetness. I use pure maple syrup, not to be confused with pancake syrup.
Storage: Store bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Wrap bars individually and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 201kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 103mg | Potassium: 47mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 206IU | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron! Iโ€™m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. Iโ€™m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping byโ€”I hope you find something delicious to make!

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5 from 6 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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11 Comments

  1. Rachel says:

    5 stars
    These were delicious. I added cinnamon and did a mix of choc chips, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries.

    Is there a way I could sub some of the flour with rolled oats or oat flour?

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      Sorry Rachel I haven’t tested oats or oat flour in this recipe!

  2. Maria says:

    5 stars
    Totally awesome!! I only had 8 out of the 12 tablespoons of butter required so I added 4 tablespoons of coconut oil instead. I took the idea from your coconut oil chocolate chip cookies recipe. Just fantastic, my 18 year old son and his friends hardly let me get the pan out of the oven. All of a sudden they were 6 years old again!๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿ’–

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      Way to make it work! So glad you enjoyed! Thanks Maria! ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Rachel says:

    So can you make these into a peanut butter cookie bar?

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      I haven’t tested a peanut butter version yet, sorry!

  4. Amber Friel says:

    5 stars
    Made these, and they were delicious. Just like the photo. Soft and chewy, and easier than chocolate chip cookies. Will write this one down. Thank you for all the protips on measuring the flour. I think thatโ€™s where Iโ€™ve gone wrong in baking in the past. Iโ€™ll be back to your site for more recipes. Thank you! ๐Ÿฅฐ

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! ๐Ÿ™‚ So thrilled you enjoyed this recipe and I hope you love whatever you try next!

  5. Amber Friel says:

    Made these, and they were delicious. Just like the photo. Soft and chewy, and easier than chocolate chip cookies. Will write this one down. Thank you! ๐Ÿฅฐ

  6. Kari says:

    5 stars
    I canโ€™t believe there are no comments on this recipe!! I donโ€™t know what the magic is but these are amazing. Iโ€™m about to make them for the second time in 2 weeks ๐Ÿ˜

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      Awe yay!! So thrilled you enjoyed these bars, thanks for the comment and review!