Name: Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 15
Ingredients: 200 g (7 oz / ¾ cup + 2 tbsp) unsalted butter, melted; ¾ cup (131 g) brown sugar, loosely packed; ½ cup (120 g) caster sugar; 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon (5 g) vanilla extract; 2 cups (300 g) plain flour / all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon (4 g) baking powder; ½ teaspoon (3 g) salt; 1 ½ cups (300 g / 10.5 oz) dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided

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I never understood all the rage over bar cookies... but then these chocolate chip cookie bars came along.

And I'm not kidding when I say I fell in love instantly. These are chewy, chocolatey perfection. Plus, they take just a fraction of the time to make compared to regular cookies!

You can have these prepared with one bowl in 15 minutes. No electric mixer required! Make sure you have a couple of friends around... these are ridiculously addictive!

Ingredients in Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Unsalted butter: provides richness, flavour, and moisture to the dough, and helps to create a tender crumb
- Can I use salted butter? Yes, just omit the added salt if using salted butter.
Brown sugar: adds sweetness and moisture, and also contributes to the cookie's soft texture
Caster/superfine sugar: adds sweetness, and also helps to create a crisp exterior on the cookie bars
Eggs
Vanilla extract
Plain/all-purpose flour
Baking powder: NOT baking soda. Make sure it's in date, as it's essential to help the cookie bars to rise
Salt: enhances the flavour of the cookie bars and balances the sweetness of the sugar
Chocolate chips: provide flavour and texture to the cookie bars, and are the star ingredient that gives the bars their classic chocolate chip flavour

How to make Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

These cookie bars are incredibly simple to make, with delicious results! All it takes is a few simple steps:

Stir together the melted butter and sugars. Add the egg and vanilla.
Stir in the dry ingredients, followed by the chocolate chips.
Pour into a prepared tin and bake until lightly golden and puffy.

And ta-da! In less that 15 minutes you can have these beautiful bars in the oven.

Substitutions

Do I need brown sugar? If you don't have brown sugar, you can use an equal amount of caster / superfine sugar (or white sugar). Note that this make the bars crispier or cakier and less chewy.

What is caster / superfine sugar? Can I use regular white sugar? Caster / superfine sugar is finer than regular white sugar and dissolves more readily into the butter. This gives you a chewier bar. You can use an equal amount of white sugar instead, if necessary.

Can I use an egg alternative? I haven't tried this recipe with an egg alternative but popular substitutions include a flax egg or mashed banana. Let me know in the comments if you try this recipe using an egg substitution!

Can I use gluten-free flour? Yes, substitute regular flour with an equal amount of high-quality gluten-free flour.

Can I use any type of chocolate chips? Yes! Use dark, milk, white or a combination of all three. You can also use roughly chopped chocolate bars for a chocolate chunk cookie bar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my chocolate chip cookie bars turn out dry and crumbly?

If your cookie bars turned out dry and crumbly, it could be because you overbaked them. Try reducing the baking time next time. It could also be because you didn't add enough wet ingredients, such as butter or eggs. Check the recipe and make sure you followed it correctly.

Why did my chocolate chip cookie bars spread too much?

If your cookie bars spread too much, it could be because you used too much butter or sugar, or not enough flour. Make sure you have measured the ingredients according to the recipe.

Why did my chocolate chip cookie bars burn on the bottom?

If your cookie bars burned on the bottom, it could be because your oven was too hot or because you placed the bars too low in the oven. Try reducing the oven temperature or placing the bars higher up in the oven.

Storage

You can keep the bars stored in an airtight container for up to 7 days.

Variations

M&Ms: Add M&Ms or other colourful candy-coated chocolates to the dough along with the chocolate chips for a fun and colourful twist.
White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut: Replace the chocolate chips with white chocolate chips and add chopped macadamia nuts to the dough for a tropical twist on the classic chocolate chip cookie bars.
Salted Caramel: Drizzle homemade or store-bought caramel sauce over the baked cookie bars and sprinkle with sea salt for a sweet and salty flavour combination.
Nuts: Add your favourite chopped nuts to the dough for a different flavour combination and added texture.

Baking Envy Instagram pictured on a smartphone.

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