Hey everyone, Jason Griffith here! We all have those moments when we want a rich, chocolatey treat but don’t want to deal with the fuss of scooping and baking individual cookies. These Soft Double Chocolate Cookie Bars are my absolute favorite solution. They’re a perfect combination of a chewy cookie and a rich, fudgy brownie, all in one easy-to-make pan. These bars are incredibly soft, packed with chocolate flavor, and a breeze to whip up, making them perfect for a party, a bake sale, or a simple dessert.
Why I Love This Recipe
What I love most about this recipe is its genius simplicity and its incredible payoff. It delivers a deep, rich chocolate flavor that’s hard to resist, and the texture is what makes them so special—they’re soft, chewy, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The best part is that you can have a batch of these from start to finish in under an hour. It’s a fantastic recipe to have in your back pocket for a fast and delicious dessert that will have everyone asking for the recipe.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Swaps and Notes
- Butter: Make sure your butter is softened to room temperature. This is crucial for creaming it with the sugars properly.
- Sugars: The combination of granulated and brown sugar gives these bars their perfect soft and chewy texture.
- Cocoa Powder: Use a high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder for the best chocolate flavor.
- Chocolate Chips: Semi-sweet chocolate chips are my preference here, but you can also use milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or a mix of all three. You can also add some nuts or a swirl of peanut butter.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8×8-inch baking pan.
- Cream the Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, using a hand mixer or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until they are light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Combine the Batter: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix!
- Add the Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in 3/4 cup of the semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Bake: Pour the batter into your prepared baking pan and spread it into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of chocolate chips over the top. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool: Let the bars cool in the pan for at least 20-30 minutes before slicing and serving. Cooling is crucial for the bars to set and have a fudgy texture.
Tips for Success
- Don’t Overbake: This is the most important tip for a soft, fudgy cookie bar. Pull them out of the oven as soon as a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Using softened butter and an egg at room temperature helps them mix together more evenly.
- Don’t Overmix: Overmixing the batter will develop the gluten and result in a tough, cake-like bar.
- Cool Before Slicing: The bars will be very soft and gooey when they first come out of the oven. Let them cool completely to set up properly before slicing.
Serving Suggestions and Pairings
These Soft Double Chocolate Cookie Bars are perfect on their own, but they’re also delicious with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce, or a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. They’re a fantastic addition to a dessert spread, alongside other classic treats like the best peanut butter brownies I’ve ever made or a platter of chocolate chip cookie dough brownie bombs.
Nutritional Information (per serving, approximate)
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Protein: 3g
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 20g
Disclaimer: Nutritional values are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients and portion sizes.
Storage and Leftover Tips
Store these cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw them at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving.
More Recipes You’ll Love
If you enjoy baking and creating delicious treats from scratch, you might also like these other recipes:
- These Old School No-Bake Cookies Never Fail Me and I’ve Made Them 100 Times
- This Chocolate Chip Banana Bread is my favorite way to use up overripe bananas
- This Edible Cookie Dough is my favorite no-bake treat for late-night cravings
Final Thoughts
These Soft Double Chocolate Cookie Bars are a perfect example of a simple, classic dessert that delivers on big, comforting flavor every single time. They’re a fun and easy way to get a fantastic treat on the table, and they’re guaranteed to become a new favorite in your home.
What’s your favorite cookie bar recipe? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below! Be sure to follow me for more recipes that are as simple as they are irresistible.
Soft Double Chocolate Cookie Bars: My Favorite Easy Dessert
Ingredients
- 2 cups unsalted butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 4 teaspoons salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips for topping
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, cream together the unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
- Mix in the vanilla extract, then stir in the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
- Fold in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.
- Sprinkle the additional chocolate chips over the top of the batter.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs.
- Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan before slicing into bars.
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