Description
This classic Toll House Cookie Bars recipe offers all the rich, chocolatey flavors of traditional chocolate chip cookies baked into easy-to-cut bars. Featuring a buttery, soft dough paired with semi-sweet chocolate chips and optional nuts, these bars are a perfect dessert for sharing or meal prepping. With a simple preparation and baking method, this recipe is ideal for bakers of all levels looking to satisfy a sweet tooth with a timeless treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
Add-ins
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease or line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the bars.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined. This ensures proper leavening and seasoning throughout the dough.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract together until the mixture becomes creamy and smooth, which helps create a tender texture.
- Add Eggs: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to fully incorporate and add moisture to the dough.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually beat in the flour mixture until just combined to avoid overmixing, which can lead to tough bars.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips and Nuts: Stir in the semi-sweet chocolate chips and, if using, the chopped nuts to evenly distribute throughout the dough.
- Spread Dough in Pan: Spread the dough evenly into the prepared 9×13-inch baking dish, smoothing the surface to ensure even baking.
- Bake: Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the bars are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Adjust baking time towards 25 minutes for a softer texture.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting into 24 bars to help them set properly and maintain their shape.
Notes
- For softer bars, bake closer to 25 minutes.
- Add a sprinkle of sea salt on top before baking for extra flavor.
- These bars freeze well—store in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
