Chocolate Chip Bars Recipe (Easy Bar Cookie)
This chocolate chip bars recipe is a simple, one-pan bar cookie you can mix in minutes. You’ll cream margarine with sugars, stir in the dry ingredients, fold in chocolate chips, then bake until the edges set and the center stays soft. The “how to make” steps include quick tips for pan prep and doneness so slicing is easy.
Ingredients
For the batter
Step-by-Step Method
Prep the oven and pan
Heat the oven to 175°C / 350°F. Grease an 8–9 inch (about 23x23 cm) square pan or line it with parchment so the bars lift out easily.
Cream margarine and sugars
Beat margarine, granulated sugar, and brown sugar for 1–2 minutes until creamy and blended.
Add eggs and vanilla
Mix in the eggs one at a time, stirring after each addition. Add vanilla and mix just until smooth.
Combine dry ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the wet mixture and stir only until no dry flour remains.
Fold in chocolate chips
Stir in the chocolate chips with a spatula. The dough will be thick—this helps the bars bake up nicely.
Spread into the pan
Press and spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan, smoothing the top so it bakes uniformly.
Bake and check doneness
Bake 20–25 minutes. Pull it when the edges look set and lightly golden while the center is still a bit soft; it will firm up as it cools.
Cool and slice
Let cool in the pan for about 20 minutes, then cool completely before cutting into squares.