I made you one of the easiest and most incredible desserts today.
These cookie bars are a first for me. When I opened my cabinets last weekend, I was met with leftover baking chips in pretty much any variety. Lots of small quantities that I wanted to use up. Cookies were the first thing that popped into my mind, but I was running short on time and needed a one-pan dessert recipe that required little cleanup. So I started to think about my regular chocolate chip cookie recipe and decided to turn them into bars.
No idea why I never thought about doing that before. I mean, it’s like one giant cookie and you get to decide how big your piece is. Pretty much the best thing ever.
Lots and lots of chocolate in every bite. Ooey, gooey and perfectly melty. Anyone with a sweet tooth will go crazy for these, especially if you love cookies, then you are in for a real treat.
I used white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, chocolate chunks, and itty bitty peanut butter cups I found at Trader Joe’s. But anything will fly. Whether you have leftovers like me and feel like starting your spring cleaning a bit early or if you need a good excuse to go out and buy chocolate, you can use anything you have on hand or whatever catches your eye at the store. There is definitely no right or wrong here.
Set your cravings free!
I was clearly trying to satisfy my love for dark chocolate, peanut butter and a happy handful of white chocolate. Love the different colors as well as the different flavor combinations. Loaded Cookie Bars actually are like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get, ha!
Yep, I’m leaving you with the picture above, because anything you’re imagining right now is probably true. Pure bliss! Have a marvelous start to your week.
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/3 cup baking chips (any variety - I used 1/3 cup each of white chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, peanut butter chips, and mini peanut butter cups)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-x-8-inch baking pan with parchment paper and spray with nonstick spray.
- 1. Melt the butter and place in the bowl of your stand mixer. Add brown and granulated sugar and cream together. Add egg and vanilla and mix until incorporated.
- 2. Add salt and baking soda to the mixture and mix. Finally add flour and combine until just incorporated (don't overmix).
- 3. Fold in baking chips of your choice and pour into prepared baking pan. Smooth out batter and distribute evenly in baking pan. Sprinkle with additional baking chips if desired. Place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes or until top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Much like a cookie, let bars cool for 20-30 minutes before cutting. Enjoy!
- Bars will keep up to 1 week at room temperature or up to 8 weeks in an airtight container in the freezer.
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These bars may very well be the best thing I have ever seen. I mean wow! Gorgeous!!!
That is such a sweet comment, Jocelyn! Thank you so very much. These bars taste every bit as good as they look 🙂
could I double this recipe, and put it in a 9 x 13 pan?
Hi Lynda! Yes, I am sure you could. You might need to add another 1/4-1/2 cup flour if the dough seems too wet. Also, I would probably add another 5 minutes of baking time – just keep an eye on them! Let me know how it goes – I’d love to hear.
they look delicious!
They are! Hope you get a chance to make them!
I LOVE cookie bars! They’re so easy, and so versatile. Yours look absolutely scrumptious, yum. Pinned!
They definitely are! Thank you so very much, Rachel.
my gosh. these look amazinnnnggggg!
Thanks, Trisha! These bars definitely don’t disappoint 🙂
Love these “leftover” bars!!! They look awesome, beautiful photos!
It is amazing what some leftovers can do, ha! Thanks a bunch, Karen!
Holy OMG. I think the drool just clogged my keyboard.
These are FANTASTIC.
Thank you for that visual – made my night!! You are too sweet, Dorothy.
Wow guuuuurl! What a good idea, will be trying these right away , I always seem to have a mish mash of chocolate somewhere in my pantry – that’s if I don’t eat then individually first! Favourited! *salivates*
Haha, it is definitely worth saving your leftover chocolate chips for this! You won’t be sorry you made them – they’re so good!! Thank you so much, Leanne!
Kathi! A million congrats on being featured by Foodgawker on FB. So so exciting. And you totally deserve it–these look absolutely incredible. As in, I want one right this second! So good. Pinned! 🙂
Thank you so much, Erin. I had no idea until you told me and I was so thrilled to see these featured on FG. You are so sweet – thanks for pinning!!
Yumm! I have just printed off the recipe and I look forward to making these. Thank you for sharing.
Absolutely – you are so welcome! Thanks, Vicki!
creepin’ around on your blog (because that’s what friends do, right? lol) and I’m so glad I did because OHEMGEE this is major!!! these look so moist and chocolatey and perfect, they are just glistening off the screen. pinning doll 🙂
That seriously made my day! Creep as much as you want, Christine. I love it!! Hope you try these sometime – they are every bit as good as they look 🙂
Awe…you forgot the butterscotch chips!!
Oh man! Feel free to add them if you give them a try. Butterscotch chips would be awesome in these!