Name: Chewy Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 8 bars
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 0.25 cup unsalted butter; 4 tablespoons dark brown sugar; 1 egg yolk; 1.5 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 0.5 cup all purpose flour; 1 tbsp cornstarch; 0.25 tsp baking powder; 0.25 tsp Kosher salt; 0.5 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Chewy Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Chewy Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars cover

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Chewy Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

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Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Instructions

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease a loaf pan with baking spray or neutral oil. Line the bottom and sides of the pan with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang. Set aside.

Add the melted butter and brown sugar to a medium mixing bowl. Whisk until smooth, about 1 minute. Then, mix in the egg yolk and vanilla extract. Whisk until the mixture is thickened and lighter in color, another 1-2 minutes.

Next, add the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until the batter is about 75% mixed. Then, fold the the semi-sweet chocolate chips into the batter until there are no more streaks of flour. Don't over-mix!

Evenly spread the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top, if desired. Bake the cookie bars for 18-20 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers are still a bit under-done. Don't over-bake or the bars will come out dry!

Let the cookie bars cool in the pan completely. Then, run a butter knife around the edge of the bars. Use the parchment paper to carefully release the cookie bars from the pan. Cut them into 6-8 bars and enjoy!

Nutrition

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Brown Your Butter for Depth 🧈
Toast the unsalted butter over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until it turns golden with a nutty aroma, then cool completely before mixing. This adds complex flavor that elevates the entire bar beyond standard cookie recipes.
Cornstarch is Your Chewiness Secret ✨
The cornstarch inhibits gluten development and absorbs moisture, creating that signature chewy texture; don't skip it or substitute all-purpose flour for the entire dry mixture.
Use Dark Brown Sugar Over Light 🟤
Dark brown sugar contains more molasses than light, providing deeper caramel notes and extra moisture that keeps these bars chewy for days longer than standard recipes.
Underbake by 1-2 Minutes 🕐
Remove the bars when the edges are set but the center still jiggles slightly; they'll continue cooking from residual heat and set to perfect chewiness as they cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
Toast Your Chocolate Chips 🍫
Lightly toast semi-sweet chocolate chips in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes before adding to the batter to intensify their flavor and prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the loaf pan.