The Best Gooey, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars: An Easy One-Bowl Recipe for Any Crowd

Prepare yourself for the ultimate dessert experience: unbelievably ooey, gooey, chewy, and thick chocolate chip cookie bars, made from scratch in a simple 9×13 pan. This isn’t just a recipe; it’s a true crowd-pleaser, delivering all the beloved flavors and textures of your favorite chocolate chip cookies but in an even easier, fuss-free format. The best part? You only need one bowl, and everything mixes up by hand – no fancy machines required!

This incredible recipe took TikTok by storm, racking up over 13 million views and captivating dessert lovers worldwide. Ready to see what all the fuss is about? Watch the viral video here!

Effortlessly Delicious: Quick & Easy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars!

This chocolate chip cookie bar recipe is about to become your new kitchen hero. It’s a busy parent’s best friend and an entertainer’s dream, requiring minimal effort but yielding maximum deliciousness. Forget the tedious task of scooping individual cookies; with this recipe, you simply press the dough into a pan, bake, and slice. It’s truly that simple!

These homemade cookie bars are perfect for any occasion where you need to feed many people without the stress. Imagine a spontaneous after-school treat, a last-minute potluck contribution, or a casual get-together – these bars fit every bill. They offer all the comfort and joy of a thick, gooey chocolate chip cookie cake, but without any of the intricate decorating. Just pure, unadulterated cookie bliss in bar form!

Beyond their incredible ease, these chocolate chip bars offer a consistency that’s hard to beat. Each bite delivers that perfect balance of crisp edges and a soft, tender, melt-in-your-mouth center, studded with rich chocolate. They’re robust enough to transport easily, making them ideal for picnics, bake sales, or thoughtful gifts.

Explore More Irresistible Cookie Bar Recipes:

If you fall in love with these, and we’re sure you will, you might also adore these other tried-and-true cookie bar recipes:

• Chewy Monster Cookie Bars
• Thick & Chewy Funfetti Blondies
• Delightful S’more Cookie Bars

Key Ingredients for Our Amazing Chocolate Chip Bars:

Crafting these delectable chocolate chip cookie bars requires a few simple, common pantry staples. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need, along with some helpful substitution notes. For precise measurements and step-by-step instructions, please jump down to the full recipe card.

• Unsalted Butter (Melted): As mentioned, melted butter is the secret to their super soft and chewy texture. While unsalted is preferred for better control over the saltiness, salted butter can be used; just omit the added salt in the recipe. Crucially, do not use margarine, as its higher water content and different fat composition will result in a greasy and less flavorful bar.
• Light Brown Sugar: This provides moisture, depth of flavor (with notes of caramel), and contributes significantly to the chewy texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Balances the sweetness and helps with the spread and crispness of the edges. The combination of both sugars is key for the perfect balance.
• 1 Large Egg + 1 Extra Yolk: The whole egg binds the ingredients, while the extra egg yolk adds richness, tenderness, and an even chewier bite, preventing the bars from becoming too cake-like.
• Vanilla Extract: A staple in most cookie recipes, pure vanilla extract enhances all the other flavors and adds a warm, inviting aroma.
• Baking Powder, Baking Soda, & Salt: These leavening agents work together to give the bars a slight lift while maintaining density. Salt balances the sweetness and brings out the chocolate flavor.
• All-Purpose Flour: The structural base of our cookie bars. For a gluten-free alternative, a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend can be used. However, for a truly exceptional gluten-free version, I personally recommend using half GF flour and half almond flour, similar to my chewy gluten-free cookie cake recipe.
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: The star of the show! I typically use Nestle or Costco brand for their consistent melt and flavor. Feel free to customize with your favorite type of chocolate chips, chunks, M&M’s, or even dairy-free chocolate options. Mixing whole chips with some chopped chips ensures chocolate in every bite and a lovely marbled effect.
• 9×13 Pan: Ideally, a light-colored metal baking pan is recommended as it conducts heat evenly and helps prevent overbrowning of the edges.

Loved these? Don’t stop at bars! Also try my incredibly easy One Bowl Chocolate Chip Cookies or indulge in my single-serve One Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie next!

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Irresistible Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Ready to bake? Here’s a detailed walkthrough of how to create these sensational chocolate chip cookie bars. Remember, for precise ingredient amounts and the full printable recipe, click here to jump to the recipe card. You can also watch my viral TikTok video for a visual guide here!

Step 1: Prepare Your Pan & Mix the Cookie Dough

First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray a 9×13 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. For the easiest removal and cleanest cuts, I highly recommend lining the pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. This creates “handles” for lifting the cooled bars out later.

In a large, medium-sized bowl (this is our one-bowl wonder!), combine your melted butter (¾ cup), light brown sugar (¾ cup), and granulated sugar (½ cup). Stir these together with a sturdy spatula or wooden spoon until they are well combined and smooth. Next, add in the egg, the extra egg yolk, vanilla extract (2 teaspoons), baking soda (1 teaspoon), baking powder (¼ teaspoon), and salt (½ teaspoon). Mix thoroughly until everything is fully incorporated. Finally, add the all-purpose flour (2 – 2 ¼ cups, referring to the “notes section” in the recipe card for exact flour amounts), ½ cup of whole semi-sweet chocolate chips, and ½ cup of chopped semi-sweet chocolate chips. Stir gently until all the flour streaks disappear and a cohesive dough forms. Be careful not to overmix.

Pro Tip: Adding the chocolate chips at the same time as the flour helps to coat the chips lightly, preventing them from sinking to the bottom of the bowl and ensuring an even distribution throughout your cookie bars.

Step 2: Press the Cookie Dough Evenly Into the Pan

Once your delicious cookie dough is ready, transfer it into your prepared 9×13 inch pan. Use your hands or the back of a spatula to press the dough evenly into the pan, making sure it reaches all the corners and forms a smooth, uniform layer. This step is crucial for achieving consistent thickness in your bars. After the dough is pressed, sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of whole chocolate chips over the top. Gently press each chocolate chip into the dough slightly. Take a moment to check for any chocolate chips that are clumped together or resting too close to the edges of the pan and redistribute them. This small detail helps to create beautiful, clean edges when your bars are cut, making them look even more appetizing.

Step 3: Bake to Golden Perfection

Place your pan into the preheated 350°F (175°C) oven and bake for 16-18 minutes. The key here is not to overbake! You want the edges to be lightly golden brown and the center to still look slightly soft and gooey. A slightly underbaked center is what gives these chocolate chip cookie bars their signature chewy and melt-in-your-mouth texture. My oven typically bakes them perfectly at 16 minutes. As soon as they are done, remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire cooling rack.

Now, for the hardest part: allowing the cookie bars to cool completely before cutting into squares! While it’s incredibly tempting to dig in immediately, waiting ensures the bars set properly and results in cleaner, less crumbly slices. If you simply can’t wait, feel free to grab a warm piece (it will be gooey and glorious!), but be aware it might crumble a bit more and won’t have the same neat appearance as when fully cooled. The residual heat in the pan will continue to bake them slightly as they cool, achieving that perfect internal texture.

Step 4 (Optional): Add a Decorative Touch to Your Cookie Bars

Once your chocolate chip cookie bars have cooled (or even while they’re warm for some options!), you can add a little flair to make them even more special. Here are some easy ways to decorate:

1. Frosting Border: For a more festive presentation, prepare a double batch of my delightful cookie cake buttercream frosting. Pipe a beautiful decorative border around the edges of the cooled bars using a piping bag and a star tip. This is fantastic for birthdays or special gatherings.
2. Chocolate Drizzle: Melt your favorite chocolate (semi-sweet, milk, or white) in a microwave-safe bowl or double boiler. Transfer the melted chocolate to a piping bag with a tiny snipped corner or a Ziploc bag, and drizzle it back and forth over the cooled cookie bars for an elegant finish.
3. Sprinkle with Toppings: Before the bars fully cool, or after a chocolate drizzle, sprinkle with extra M&M’s, your favorite sprinkles, crushed nuts (like peanuts, walnuts, or pecans), or slivered almonds. This adds both texture and visual appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Discover More Delicious Cookie Bar Recipes:

Can’t get enough of easy, delicious cookie bars? Explore some of my other tried-and-true recipes that are just as simple and satisfying!

It truly is that easy to create these ultimate chocolate chip cookie bars! They’re super-duper delicious, incredibly satisfying, and everyone who tries them will love them… guaranteed! If you make them, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below and share your delicious creations by tagging me on Instagram @designeatrepeat. Enjoy every gooey, chewy bite, xo!