2/11/15

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

All the goodness of chocolate chip cookies made easy in one big easy batch of chewy bars. Top with Valentine's, Easter or Christmas colored M&M's for a special holiday cookie recipe.

JUMP TO RECIPE

I rarely make cookies. It’s not because I don’t love them, it’s because I don’t usually have time to sit around waiting for 3-4 batches to cook.

Plus, I can never stop thinking of the electric meter hula-hooping for hours just for the sake of cookies. The fact that I don’t mind doing the same for a slow-cooked hunk of roasted meat says a lot about where the tastebuds of my heart lie.

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars! All the goodness of chocolate chip cookies made easy in one big easy batch of chewy bars. Top with Valentine's, Easter or Christmas colored M&M's for a special holiday cookie recipe.

These are both reasons I love no-bake cookies so much (you just scoop them all out at once). Speaking of, here are my favorite recipes for no-bake cookies:

  • No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies - A tried-and-true recipe for no-bake cookies made with peanut butter and oats topped with an easy cocoa drizzle. 
  • No-Bake Monster Cookies - An easy no-bake peanut butter cookie recipe with quick-cooking oats topped with chocolate chips and M&Ms. 
  • Triple Chocolate No-Bake Cookies - Classic no-bake peanut butter oatmeal cookies made with DOUBLE the cocoa and studded with chocolate chips for three times the chocolate goodness! 

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars! All the goodness of chocolate chip cookies made easy in one big easy batch of chewy bars. Top with Valentine's, Easter or Christmas colored M&M's for a special holiday cookie recipe.

I very recently (painfully and reluctantly) turned down an amazing (unbelievably huge, once-in-a-lifetime, life-altering) opportunity because I just couldn't make it work around my family’s busy (chaotic, crazy, wouldn't-have-it-any-other-way) schedule.

But I’m supposed to scratch out 2 hours to bake cookies? Negative.

So THIS is how I make chocolate chip cookies! Throw all the batter in a pan and go for broke!

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars! All the goodness of chocolate chip cookies made easy in one big easy batch of chewy bars. Top with Valentine's, Easter or Christmas colored M&M's for a special holiday cookie recipe.

NOTES ABOUT CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE BARS

  • For Valentine’s, Christmas or any other holiday-themed cookies, just throw a handful of seasonal M&Ms on top before baking and you’re golden! Try Reese's Pieces for Halloween cookie bars! If using, stir all of the chocolate chips into the batter then sprinkle candies on top of dough instead.
  • You don’t have to fool with reserving the handful of chocolate chips to sprinkle on top in Step 5; it’s just a little trick to make the cookies look swanky. Otherwise, all the chips are mixed in the batter and you don’t really see them much.
  • For the "semi-melted" butter, just put the butter in a bowl then pop it in the microwave until about half is melted then stir it up. You just want a very loose, soft consistency.
  • If you don’t have any self-rising flour, just combine a scant 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon baking powder.
  • Lining the pan with foil is optional but it makes it very easy to lift the cookies out of the pan for cutting into perfect little squares.

Recipe for Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Yield: 24 cookies
Author: Mandy Rivers | South Your Mouth
All the goodness of chocolate chip cookies made easy in one big easy batch of chewy bars. Top with Valentine's, Easter or Christmas colored M&M's for a special holiday cookie recipe.

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 self-rising flour
  • 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) butter, semi-melted
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 12-oz. bag chocolate chips, divided

Instructions

  1. Line a 13x9 baking pan with aluminum foil then spray lightly with cooking spray; set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Combine butter and sugars in a stand mixer or large bowl and mix with an electric mixer until combined and smooth.
  3. Mix in eggs and vanilla until well combined.
  4. Add flour then mix on low speed until combined. Stir in all but a handful of chips (about 1/4 cup).
  5. Spread dough evenly into pan then sprinkle reserved chocolate chips on top (see notes below if using M&Ms or Reese's Pieces).
  6. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until light golden brown around the edges.
  7. Once cool, lift up on the aluminum foil to remove the cookie slab from the pan. Cut into 24 bars and store in an air-tight container.

Notes

  • If using M&Ms or Reese's Pieces on top of the cookies, stir all of the chocolate chips into the batter then sprinkle candies on top of dough instead.
  • You don’t have to fool with reserving the handful of chocolate chips to sprinkle on top; it’s just a little trick to make the cookies look swanky. Otherwise, all the chips are mixed in the batter and you don’t really see them much.
  • For the "semi-melted" butter, just put the butter in a bowl then pop it in the microwave until about half is melted then stir it up. You just want a very loose, soft consistency.
  • If you don’t have any self-rising flour, just combine a scant 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon baking powder.
  • Lining the pan with foil is optional but it makes it very easy to lift the cookies out of the pan for cutting into perfect little squares.
chocolate chip, cookies, cookie bars, blondies, chewy, easy, self-rising, 13x9, best, recipe, M&Ms, reeses, pieces, halloween, christmas, easter, valentines
dessert, cookies
Keep up with my latest shenanigans by following South Your Mouth!

For another SUPER EASY cookie recipe, check out these 6-ingredient EASY Bisquick Chocolate Chip Cookies from Sweet Little Bluebird! 

20 comments:

  1. WOW...my hubby was just asking for chocolate chip cookies last night, this sounds so good and quick... guess what I'm making this afternoon !
    Thanks for a great recipe......

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  2. I am totally, totally making these.............!

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  3. I made these today and they turned out just wonderfully! I had to follow the instructions for making my own self-rising flour and it worked just fine. I also used parchment paper vs. the foil so I didn't have to spray with non-stick spray. Thanks for a great recipe!

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  4. could you use bisquick instead of self rising flour?

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    Replies
    1. Errr..... maybe. It has a leavening agent but it also has shortening. If you try it, let us know!

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  5. I made these last night. The only bad thing about them is that we can't stay away from them! Warning! They are highly addictive! :-)

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  6. I just made these for an Easter family gathering. I followed the directions, (using the flour, baking powder, salt substitute), baked for the full time and it came out golden and perfect. Even the edges were perfect, not hard and overdone.

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  7. I was wondering if I can substitute the Crisco shortening sticks for the butter. I use these in my CC cookies and they work better for me. I'm thinking these will be fine using them also

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  8. These are fantastic, delicious and so quick & easy to make. I'm making it for the 2nd time in as many weeks at my DH's request. They don't last long. Thanks for sharing!!

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  9. Just a suggestion, The tablespoon of baking powder is a little much it. You might want to say a teaspoon.

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    Replies
    1. Not too much at all. I use these quantities all the time and they work perfectly!

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  10. Made this for a co-worker's birthday and decorated it like a cookie cake. I made 1 1/2 recipes of this because I used my sheet pan. It was a hit.
    https://www.instagram.com/p/BH41HgcgZr4/

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  11. Love, love, love these cookie bars!! I make them all the time and they disappear very quickly. I've tried them with all semisweet chips, half semisweet and milk chocolate and half semisweet and half peanut butter chips and they are all delicious. It's a keeper!

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    Replies
    1. I am so glad you're enjoying them! Time for me to make again!

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  12. First off I have to say this is the best recipe ever, the cookies are so soft and buttery. Have you ever added peanut butter to this great recipe? If so how much would you add? Then I use peanut butter chips. 2 great recipes yum. You are an exceptional cook. Thanks you so much.

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    Replies
    1. Well, I am glad you like them!! I've never added peanut butter but it's worth trying! Maybe add 1/2 cup and see what happens. I bet butterscotch chips would be good too!

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  13. Never use butter for anything. Hate butter. Wish I had some of those cookies



    o those cookies.

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  14. Do you think m&m's would work?

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  15. I made with almond flour and added the tablespoon baking soda and teaspoon salt...amazingly gluten free or not!

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Hi there! While I’m not able to respond to every comment, I try hard to answer any questions that haven’t been addressed in the post, recipe or in other comments.

I can tell you now 1) I have no idea if you can substitute Minute Rice or brown rice in my recipes because I’ve never used them and 2) If I know how to convert a recipe to a Crock Pot version, I will make a note about it (otherwise, I don’t know).

And though I may not respond to them all, I do read each and every comment and I LOVE to hear from you guys! Thanks, y’all! - Mandy