There’s something irresistible about the perfect chocolate chip bar – that delightful cross between a cookie and a brownie that satisfies all your sweet cravings in one go. After countless test batches, we are thrilled to share our ultimate recipe with you today!

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Why You’ll Love These Bars

These Ultimate Chocolate Chip Bars are a game-changer for several reasons:

Perfect Texture: Crisp edges with a soft, gooey center
Flavor Balance: Brown butter and brown sugar create caramel notes that complement the chocolate
Make-Ahead Friendly: They taste even better the next day!
Crowd-Pleaser: Never met anyone who didn’t love these bars

The Secret Ingredients

Two special additions elevate these chocolate chip bars from good to unforgettable:

Brown Butter: Taking a few extra minutes to brown the butter adds a nutty, caramelized flavor that transforms the entire recipe.
Flaky Sea Salt: A light sprinkle before baking enhances the sweetness and adds delightful texture contrast.

The Baking Equipment That Makes All The Difference

Even with a perfect recipe, the right tools dramatically impact your success with these chocolate chip bars. After trying numerous options (and sadly losing a few batches to sticking or uneven baking), We’ve found these kitchen essentials to be absolutely unbeatable for this recipe:

The Perfect Baking Pan: The USA Pan 9×13-inch Rectangular Baking Pan provides exceptional heat distribution while the unique corrugated surface ensures your bars release perfectly every time.
Light-Colored Saucepan: For browning butter, a light-colored stainless steel saucepan is essential so you can clearly see the color changing. The All-Clad 3-Quart Saucepan offers premium quality that prevents hot spots and burning.
Mixing Bowls That Last: The OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Mixing Bowl Set includes non-slip bottoms that stay put during vigorous mixing and perfect sizes for both wet and dry ingredients.

Tips for Perfect Chocolate Chip Bars

Don’t Overmix: Once you add the flour, mix just until combined to avoid tough bars.
Underbake Slightly: For that perfect gooey center, remove from the oven when the edges are set but the center is still slightly soft.
Chocolate Choices: Feel free to mix up your chocolate – try a combination of milk, semi-sweet, and dark chocolate chips.
Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Troubleshooting Tips for Bar Cookie Success

Even with an excellent recipe, chocolate chip bars present unique challenges. Here’s how to overcome the most common issues:

Sticking to the pan: The most critical step is proper pan preparation – use a baking spray with flour or manually butter and flour every corner
Uneven baking: An oven thermometer ensures your temperature is accurate – most home ovens are off by 25-50 degrees!
Dense texture: Be careful not to overmix once the flour is added – stop the mixer when just combined
Cutting cleanly: A bench scraper creates professional-looking cuts rather than jagged edges from a knife

Variations to Try

Cookies & Cream: Add 1 cup of crushed Oreo cookies to the batter
S’mores Bars: Top with mini marshmallows and graham cracker pieces during the last 5 minutes of baking
Peanut Butter Swirl: Warm 1/2 cup of peanut butter and swirl into the batter before baking

Make-Ahead and Storage Solutions

These chocolate chip bars are perfect for advance preparation:

The bars actually improve in flavor when made 1 day ahead
Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days
Freeze uncut bars for up to 3 months wrapped well in plastic and foil
Individual squares freeze beautifully for portion control and quick defrosting

The Secret to These Irresistible Bars

These chocolate chip bars are the ultimate treat—chewy, soft, and packed with rich, nutty brown butter flavor. They’re the kind of dessert that disappears fast, whether at a potluck, after-school snack time, or a late-night craving moment (no judgment here!). Easy to whip up but special enough to feel like a treat, these bars are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Try them out and don’t be afraid to get creative with mix-ins—because there’s no wrong way to enjoy a gooey, chocolatey bar!

Happy baking!

Let’s Make Ultimate Chocolate Chip Bars!

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Bars

These Ultimate Chocolate Chip Bars combine the crisp edges of a cookie with a gooey, brown-butter-infused center for a decadent treat that elevates the classic chocolate chip cookie into something truly extraordinary.

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Servings 24 Bars

Ingredients

1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup brown sugar packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips divided
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans optional
Flaky sea salt for sprinkling

Instructions

Brown the butter: Melt butter in a light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, as butter foams and then begins to brown and smell nutty (about 5-7 minutes). Watch carefully to prevent burning! Transfer immediately to a heat-safe bowl and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing some overhang for easy removal later. Pre-cut parchment sheets save significant time and eliminate measuring errors.
Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
Make the batter: In a large bowl, combine cooled brown butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes until well combined. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
Combine: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Fold in 1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips and nuts (if using). A high-quality silicone spatula makes folding ingredients together a breeze without overmixing.
Bake: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips on top and a light dusting of flaky sea salt. Bake for 25-28 minutes, until edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
Cooling: Allow to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting out using the parchment paper overhang. For clean cuts, refrigerate for 30 minutes before slicing into bars.

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