Small-batch Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

This post was originally published on May 12, 2015 and was improved and updated on October 31, 2023.

These small-batch chocolate chip cookie bars have the perfect balance of softness and chewiness. The cookie base is a comforting blend of buttery brown sugar and melty chocolate chips.

The convenience of a small-batch recipe is an added bonus, making these chocolate chip cookie bars a little slice of homemade heaven, ready to eat in no time at all.

Chocolate chip cookie bars stacked up in an antique tin with a napkin next to them.

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Why Small-Batch Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars?

If you’ve ever craved freshly baked chocolate chip cookies but lacked the time and patience to scoop out individual cookies and bake them in batches, these cookie bars are your dream come true.

They offer all the goodness of classic cookies in a fraction of the time (and mess). No need to fuss with portioning and multiple batches; just mix, pour, and bake.

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Here’s the Ingredients You Need

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/4 cup flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/8 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Cookie bars spread out randomly on an old cookie sheet.

How to Make These Small-batch Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line an 8 x 8 pan with parchment paper or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter and let it cool.
  3. Stir in brown sugar and vanilla until well combined.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  5. Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix well.
  6. Fold in 1/2 cup chocolate chips.
  7. Sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top, if desired (I forgot to do it with this batch, as you can clearly see – whoops).
  8. Bake for 20 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. When the bars are done, the top will be golden brown and slightly puffed up.
  9. Let the cookie bars cool in the pan. Then lift from pan and slice into 9 square bars.
  • Be sure to check out the full ingredient list and recipe instructions below.
Cookie bars stacked up on on a white plate with a glass of milk in the background.

The Magic of Small-batch

Now, let’s talk about why small-batch cookie bars are a game-changer. First and foremost, they save you a ton of time. Traditional chocolate chip cookies can be a labor-intensive process. With small-batch cookie bars, there’s no scooping and no need to babysit multiple batches in the oven. Just pour the batter into a single pan and bake.

These cookie bars also have an irresistible texture. They’re the perfect balance between soft and chewy, with just a hint of crispiness around the edges. The bars maintain their moisture and freshness for longer than cookies do, making them a great make-ahead treat for gatherings or a quick dessert when is sweet craving hits.

Cookie bars laying in a an old loaf pain with a glass of milk in the background.

Storing Cookie Bars

Now, let’s talk about storing your cookie bars. If you manage to resist eating them all in one sitting, these bars are easy to store. Simply place them in an airtight container, Ziplock bag, or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap.

They’ll stay fresh for up to a week at room temperature, and if you want them to last even longer, pop them in the fridge for up to two weeks. Just be sure to microwave them for a few seconds to regain that warm, melty, cookie-like goodness. You can also freeze the baked and cooled cookie bars for up to 3 months.

Cookie bars stacked up on a white plate with a glass of milk in the background.

Customize and Experiment

One of the beauties of small-batch cookie bars is their adaptability. You can get creative by adding your favorite mix-ins like nuts, dried fruits, or white chocolate chips. Maybe even try a drizzle of caramel sauce on top or a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for a delightful twist on this classic recipe.

Tip

To make these small-batch cookie bars more festive, stir in 1/4 cup of themed sprinkles into the batter and then sprinkle a few more on top before baking.

These cookie bars make an excellent addition to holiday cookie platters and if you cut them down into smaller pieces, they make great grab-and-go “cookie bites” for dessert trays.

I think you’ll love these small-batch chocolate chip cookie bars as a quick and tasty alternative to traditional chocolate chip cookies. They’ll save you time and deliver amazing flavor and texture. So the next time you’re craving the comfort of chocolate chip cookies, give these chocolate chip cookie bars a try. You won’t be disappointed!

Cookie bars stacked up on a white plate with a glass of milk in the background.

Small-batch Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

By: Kristine Underwood
These small-batch chocolate chip cookie bars have the perfect balance of softness and chewiness. The cookie base is a comforting blend of buttery brown sugar and melty chocolate chips. The convenience of a small-batch recipe is an added bonus, making these cookie bars a little slice of homemade heaven, ready to eat in no time at all.
5 from 7 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Sweets & Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 9 bars
Calories 313 kcal

ingredients
 
 

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted and cooled)
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/4 cup flour (all-purpose)
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/8 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line an 8 x 8 pan with parchment paper or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  • In a microwave safe bowl, melt butter and let it cool slightly.
    1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • Whisk in the brown sugar until smooth and melted.
    1 cup brown sugar
  • Add egg and vanilla extract and mix until incorporated.
    1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt.
    1 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/8 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • Slowly add flour mixture to wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not over-mix.
  • Gently fold in the chocolate chips.
    1/2 cup chocolate chips
  • Pour batter into prepared pan and sprinkle the top with a few more chocolate chips, if desired.
  • Bake for 20 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. When the bars are done, the top will be golden brown and slightly puffed up.
  • Let cookie bars cool in the pan. Then carefully lift them from the pan, and slice into 9 square bars.
  • Store cookie bars in an airtight container for a 4-5 days or freeze for up to three months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 barCalories: 313kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 3gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 185mgPotassium: 118mgFiber: 1gSugar: 28gVitamin A: 347IUCalcium: 48mgIron: 2mg
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Recipe Rating




10 Comments

  1. I just love how thick and soft these cookie bars are! 🙂 I also love that this is a smaller batch recipe. Perfection!5 stars

    1. Thank you so much Carrie! Me too, I mean, I love cookie bars, but you don’t always need a whole 9 x 13 pan! Glad you enjoyed them!

  2. Oh, these small-batch chocolate chip cookie bars are absolutely heavenly! Very chewy and rich. And very simple to whip up. Great recipe!5 stars

    1. Thank you so much Alison! They really are! Very glad to hear you enjoyed them. Happy baking!

  3. Perfect for a quick dessert and so delicious too. These are great on their own or made into a sundae too.5 stars

    1. Amanda! That’s a fabulous suggestion, I can’t wait to try them in a sundae! Yum! Thanks for the recommendation!

  4. Loved these! I have to be honest, after making them yesterday, I could not wait for them to cool down completely, and had my first taste with a spoon straight out of the pan! They are just as good once cooled and sliced too! My husband and I may even had a little argument about who gets to pack the rest to take into work today 😀5 stars

    1. HAHA Ieva thats fantastic! I feel you though, we are the same way over here and these bars never last long. They’re too good!

  5. I loved these cookie bars. They were so soft and chewy. We all ate them up immediately! Thank you.5 stars

    1. Oh, thank you so much! I’m really glad to hear it, Bobby. They don’t last too long here either, a family favorite!