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Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
Cooling Time: 1 hour (if you can wait!)
Total Time: 45 minutes
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Servings: 16 bars
Author: [Your Website/Blog Name]

The Story Behind the Bars

Let’s be honest: the best part of the chocolate chip cookie is the center—the soft, doughy, slightly under-baked heart that oozes with melted chocolate. What if you could capture that feeling in every single bite? What if you could have a pan full of nothing but the best part, with the added bonus of crispy, buttery edges for those who love a little contrast?

Enter the Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar. This recipe is the holy grail for cookie lovers who value their time and their taste buds. It eliminates the tedious process of scooping individual dough balls, instead pressing one glorious mass of dough into a pan and letting the oven work its magic. The result is a pan of pure, unadulterated joy: a thick, chewy, and impossibly gooey bar that is studded with pockets of melted chocolate. It’s a communal dessert, meant to be placed in the center of the table with a spatula, allowing everyone to dig into their perfect portion. Whether it’s for a bake sale, a potluck, or a late-night snack attack, these bars are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that deliver the soul-warming comfort of a classic chocolate chip cookie in its most efficient and indulgent form.

Recipe Details

  • Intensity Level: Easy. This is a quintessential beginner-friendly recipe. It requires no special equipment (a wooden spoon and a bowl will do) and no advanced techniques. It’s a fantastic recipe to make with kids, teaching them the fundamentals of baking without the fuss.

  • Lasting Power & Storage: These bars are at their absolute peak when still slightly warm from the oven. However, they will stay soft and delicious for up to 4 days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. For longer storage, you can freeze the bars for up to 3 months. Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature or warm briefly in the microwave for that fresh-from-the-oven experience.

Ingredients

For the Cookie Bars:

  • 1 cup (2 sticks / 226g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

  • 1 ½ cups (300g) light brown sugar, packed

  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature

  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

  • 2 ¼ cups (270g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled

  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch (the secret to a chewy texture!)

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt

  • 2 cups (340g) semi-sweet chocolate chips (or a mix of semi-sweet and milk chocolate)

  • 1/2 cup (70g) chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

For Serving (Optional but Highly Recommended):

  • Flaky sea salt for sprinkling

  • Vanilla ice cream

Instructions

Step 1: Preparation and Pan Prep

A little setup goes a long way in ensuring your bars bake evenly and release perfectly.

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This is the standard temperature for achieving a golden-brown edge and a perfectly set, gooey center.

  2. Line an 8×8 or 9×9 inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two opposite sides. This creates a “sling” that allows you to lift the entire slab of bars out of the pan for easy, clean cutting. If you don’t have parchment, generously grease the pan with butter or non-stick spray.

Step 2: The One-Bowl Wonder Dough

The melted butter method is the key to these bars’ dense, chewy, and gooey texture.

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted (and slightly cooled) butter and the packed brown sugar. Whisk vigorously for about one minute until the mixture is smooth and well-combined. It will have a thick, grainy consistency.

  2. Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Whisk again until the mixture is smooth, glossy, and fully emulsified.

  3. Place a sieve over the bowl and add the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Sift the dry ingredients directly into the wet ingredients. The cornstarch is a non-negotiable secret weapon here; it inhibits gluten formation, guaranteeing a tender, chewy crumb.

  4. Switch to a spatula or wooden spoon and fold the dry ingredients into the wet. Mix until just combined and no streaks of flour remain. Do not overmix! Overmixing leads to tough, cakey bars.

  5. Now, fold in the chocolate chips and optional nuts, reserving a small handful to sprinkle on top.

Step 3: Pan and Bake to Perfection

  1. Transfer the thick, luxurious dough to your prepared pan. Use the spatula or your fingers (lightly dampened with water to prevent sticking) to press the dough into an even layer.

  2. Sprinkle the reserved chocolate chips over the top and press them down gently.

  3. Bake for 25-30 minutes. The goal here is not a completely firm center. The bars are done when the top is golden brown, the edges are pulling away from the pan, and the center appears just set. It might still look a little soft and puffy—that’s exactly what you want! A toothpick inserted into the center should come out with a few moist crumbs attached, but not wet batter. For the ultimate gooey factor, err on the side of under-baking.

Step 4: The Patience Test

This is the hardest but most crucial step for achieving the perfect texture.

  1. Remove the pan from the oven and immediately sprinkle with a pinch of flaky sea salt. This enhances the chocolate flavor and cuts the sweetness beautifully.

  2. Place the entire pan on a wire cooling rack. Allow the bars to cool in the pan for at least 1 hour. As they cool, they will continue to set from the residual heat. Cutting into them while they are still hot will result in a messy, crumbly situation. Trust the process!

Step 5: Slice and Savor the Goo

  1. Once completely cool, use the parchment paper sling to lift the entire block of cookie out of the pan and onto a cutting board.

  2. Using a sharp chef’s knife, slice into 16 squares. For clean cuts, wipe the knife blade clean between each slice.

  3. Serve as is, or for the ultimate indulgence, warm slightly and serve à la mode with a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream. The contrast of temperatures and textures is pure heaven.

Nutrition Information

Important Note: Nutritional values are an estimate and can vary significantly based on the specific brands of ingredients used, particularly the chocolate chips.

  • Serving Size: 1 bar

  • Calories: ~380

  • Total Fat: 19g

  • Saturated Fat: 11g

  • Cholesterol: 55mg

  • Sodium: 220mg

  • Total Carbohydrates: 52g

  • Dietary Fiber: 2g

  • Sugars: 35g

  • Protein: 4g

Dietary Adjustments & Flavor Variations:

  • Gluten-Free: Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend.

  • Dairy-Free: Use vegan butter sticks and ensure your chocolate chips are dairy-free.

  • M&M’s Funfetti: Swap out one cup of chocolate chips for a cup of M&M’s for a colorful, festive bar perfect for birthdays.

  • Salted Caramel: Before baking, drizzle 1/2 cup of store-bought or homemade caramel sauce over the dough and swirl it in with a knife for a decadent caramel-chocolate twist.

  • Peanut Butter Cup: Fold in 1 cup of chopped peanut butter cups along with the chocolate chips.

Final Thoughts

Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are more than just a dessert; they are a philosophy. They represent the beautiful truth that sometimes, the simplest, most straightforward path leads to the most profound satisfaction. This recipe is a celebration of comfort, of shared moments, and of the timeless combination of butter, sugar, and chocolate.

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