• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Homebody Eats
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
    • Main Dish
    • Side Dish
  • Entertaining
  • Kitchen Essentials
  • About
  • Start a Food Blog
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Fall Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
  • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Homebody Eats » Recipes » Cookies

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars (In 9 x 13 Pan)

    Published: Aug 3, 2019 · Modified: Apr 6, 2022 by Jessica Mode · This post may contain affiliate links, which means I'll receive a commission if you purchase through the link, at no extra cost to you. Please see full disclosure for more details.

    • Share
    • Email
    • Print
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    chocolate chip cookies in a 9x13 pan with text overlay.

    If you’re hunting for the perfect ooey-gooey chocolate chip cookie bars, the hunt ends with this recipe. In a 9” x 13” pan, you can make the tastiest cookie bars full of chocolate, brown butter, and the perfect touch of flakey sea salt.

    chocolate chip cookies in a 9x13 inch pan.

    This chocolate chip cookie bar recipe is so easy and saves the extra effort of making individual cookies. Making the chocolate chip cookie bars in a 9” x 13” pan allows you to easily slice up 24 perfectly sized cookie bars. 

    Not only are these cookie bars easy to make, but they’re unbelievably delicious.

    This is because of the generous amount of chocolate chips, the nuttiness from brown butter, and the salty crunch from the flakey sea salt thrown on top.

    What You'll Learn In This Recipe

    • Step-by-step instructions with photos for how to make the best chocolate chip cookie bars.
    • How to brown butter to add amazing flavor to cookies. 
    • The secret tip for elevating the look of your cookies.

    Want to learn more about baking? Take your baking knowledge to the next level with my free top 10 baking secrets guide.

    Ingredients You Need

    Here's everything you need to bake up these chocolate cookie bars.

    chocolate chip cookie bar ingredients with labels.

    Unsalted butter: Butter and other forms of fats are used in baking to add richness, flavor, and moisture. Butter helps baked goods have that nice soft and tender bite that makes them so enjoyable. 

    If you use salted butter instead, be sure you adjust the fine sea salt in the recipe. 

    All purpose flour: Flour is responsible for the texture and structure of the cookies. Make sure you are measuring your flour properly if you're not using a digital food scale. To properly measure your flour without a scale:

    1. Fluff up the flour using a spoon.
    2. Scoop the flour into the measuring cup.
    3. Level off the measuring cup with a knife to remove any excess flour.

    If you are looking to make this cookie recipe gluten-free, opt for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour like Bob’s Red Mill. 

    Fine sea salt: Salt is needed in all types of food, baking being no exception. Salt is a flavor enhancer, meaning that by adding salt, all the other ingredients involved will have increased flavor. When it comes to baking things like cookies, I prefer fine sea salt because it distributes more evenly throughout the dough.

    Baking soda: This is the leavener that helps the cookies rise and achieve that light and airy texture. 

    Granulated sugar: The sugar included in this recipe helps sweeten and tenderize the cookies. When the sugar is creamed with the butter, it also works to leaven the cookies. 

    Light brown sugar: Brown sugar is a type of sugar with molasses added to it. This helps the cookies have a soft, chewy bite, with an added bit of deeper flavor. 

    Eggs: Eggs hold everything together in cookies. They provide the structure that gives the cookies form. For this recipe, there is no need to wait for the eggs to come to room temperature. 

    Vanilla Extract: Just a small amount of vanilla extract goes a long way in this recipe. This helps add an added depth of flavor to the chocolate chip cookie bars. 

    Semi-sweet chocolate morsels: All good cookie recipes need that mix-in that brings it to the next level. Semi-sweet chocolate morsels are the perfect add-in for that yummy chocolate flavor and added texture. If you aren’t as big of a fan of chocolate, feel free to use 1 less cup of chocolate morsels in the recipe. 

    Maldon sea salt flakes: This is the perfect finish for these sweet cookies. It really helps balance out the flavor as well as add a nice visual appeal to your cookie bars.

    How To Make This Recipe

    With just a little bit of time, you’ll be enjoying these super easy chocolate chip cookie bars.

    Prepare 9" x 13" Pan

    numbered photo with 9x13 pan with parchment paper.

    Before you get to work, heat your oven to 350°F (175°C) so it's hot and ready to go by the time you finish making the cookie bars. 

    Next, line a 9 x 13 inch (23 cm x 33 cm) metal baking pan with parchment paper.

    The easiest way to do this is by lightly greasing the entire inside of the pan. Then, grab a sheet of parchment paper and lay it underneath the pan.

    Make sure the parchment paper is tall enough to leave a little overhang on the sides of the pan. If there's a lot of excess parchment, trim some of it off.

    Then, place the parchment in the pan and fold one flap behind the other to create a tight corner. Use your fingers to fold and crease the sides of the parchment so it fits nicely along the side of the pan.

    Set the pan aside while we move along to the next step.

    Brown Butter

    two numbered photos showing how to make brown butter.

    The first step in the cooking process is browning your butter. Essentially, browning your butter is just cooking your butter on medium-high heat until it reaches a nice brown color. Be sure to whisk or stir constantly to avoid any burning. 

    When it is ready, you should smell a nutty flavor and see some golden-brown specks at the bottom of the butter. After you see this, turn off the heat and transfer your browned butter into a heat-proof container to stop the cooking process and fully cool.

    You can do this step ahead of time and store the browned butter in your fridge. Just be sure to let it soften to room temperature before using it in your cookie bar recipe.

    If you’ve never made brown butter before, check out this 60-second video guide on how to make brown butter. 

    Make The Cookie Dough

    numbered photo whisking flour.

    Let's move on to make the cookie dough.

    Mix the flour, salt, and baking soda together until they’re combined. Then, set this aside for a minute. 

    two numbered photos showing creamed butter and adding eggs and vanilla to dough.

    Separately, beat the cooled brown butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.

    Beat this on medium-high speed for about three minutes until it's light and fluffy. Beating the butter and sugar for a full 3 minutes is crucial for making your cookies lighter and fluffier. 

    For this step, you can also use an electric hand mixer. 

    Next, add in the eggs and vanilla and mix until everything is combined. 

    numbered photo showing how to add flour to cookie dough.

    Gradually add the flour mixture one cup at a time. After adding your last bit of flour, let it combine into the dough, and then shut off the mixer.

    It is best if you mix the dough as little as possible in this stage to reduce how firm your cookie will be. Overmixing the dough will develop stronger gluten structures and therefore make the cookie bars more firm in texture. 

    numbered photo adding chocolate chips to cookie dough.

    For the last step in the cookie dough, mix in your chocolate morsels by hand using a silicone spatula. The chocolate is added by hand, so the chips don’t break apart while in the mixer, and so we don't overmix the dough. 

    Bake The Cookie Bars

    numbered photo showing cookie dough in a 9x13 inch pan.

    The last part of this chocolate chip cookie bar recipe is to transfer the dough and bake it. For this, move your dough from the bowl and into the prepared baking pan.

    For the most even bake on your cookies, push the dough, so it’s as level as possible. A useful trick for this is to take the leftover butter wrapper to push the cookie dough flat, that way your hands won't get dirty. 

    Finally, bake the cookies for 26 - 30 minutes until they are lightly browned on top. At this point, the cookies will be soft and gooey in texture.

    If you prefer a more well-done cookie, let them cook in the oven a little while longer until they have a more golden-brown complexion on top. 

    Once the cookies are baked to perfection, remove the baking tray from the oven, and set it on a wire cooling rack. Sprinkle the cookie bars with Maldon sea salt flakes immediately after they come out of the oven to ensure that the salt sticks to the cookies. 

    Let your chocolate chip cookie bars cool for at least 60 minutes. After they’ve cooled, remove the cookie bars from the pan, and slice them into 24 even squares (3 slices length-wise, and 8 slices width-wise). 

    Expert Tips

    • You can store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days before they start to go stale.
    • If you prefer to make these cookies in advance or keep them longer, store them in an airtight container and they will stay good for up to 2 months in the freezer. 
    • If you want to add an extra visual touch to your cookie bars, reserve ½ a cup of the chocolate morsels from the recipe and sprinkle them on top of the cookie bars after the dough has been pressed into the baking pan.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I store my chocolate chip cookie bars in the refrigerator?

    No, the cookie bars will get stale quicker if they’re stored in the refrigerator. If they’re being eaten within a week, it is best to store them in an airtight container at room temperature.

    Can I use a chocolate bar instead of chocolate chips for the cookie bars?

    Absolutely, just be sure you chop the chocolate bar into bits roughly the size of chocolate chips.

    Can I use margarine instead of real butter?

    No, for this recipe, margarine does not work. Margarine is imitation butter, so the flavor and the way it cooks will not result in the same end product.

    chocolate chip cookie bars.

    More Cookie Recipes

    • chewy M&M sugar cookies on pink background.
      Soft & Thick M&M Sugar Cookies
    • chewy caramel blondie cookies.
      Chewy Caramel Blondies
    • chocolate chip cookies laying on coffee beans.
      Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • three chocolate rugelach cookies on a plate.
      Chocolate Rugelach Recipe

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐rating in the recipe card below. Don't forget to follow along on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest for more recipes.

    chocolate chip cookies in a pan.

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars (In 9 x 13 Pan)

    If you’re hunting for the perfect ooey-gooey chocolate chip cookie bars, the hunt ends with this recipe. In a 9” x 13” pan, you can make the tastiest cookie bars full of chocolate, brown butter, and the perfect touch of flakey sea salt.
    Author: Jessica Mode
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Active Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 26 minutes mins
    Cooling Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 46 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24 cookie bars (9 x 13 inch pan)
    Calories 324 kcal

    Equipment

    • 9 x 13 inch (23 cm x 33 cm) metal baking pan
    • small saucepan
    • mixing bowl
    • stand or electric mixer
    • silicone spatula
    • wire cooling rack

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
    • 3 cups all purpose flour
    • ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
    • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
    • ¾ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
    • 3 cups semi sweet chocolate morsels
    • Maldon sea salt flakes for topping

    Instructions
     

    • Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a 9 x 13 inch (23 cm x 33 cm) metal baking pan by lining with parchment paper and leaving a slight overhang on the sides.
    • Heat butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring continuously until there are golden brown flecks at the bottom of the saucepan and you smell a nutty aroma, about 3 - 5 minutes. Be sure to watch the butter throughout the entire browning process to ensure the butter does not burn. As the butter melts down, foam will begin to form. As soon as you can see golden brown flecks, remove the butter from the heat and transfer to a heat-proof bowl to cool.
    • Whisk flour, salt, and baking soda in a mixing bowl until combined.
    • Beat cooled brown butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
    • Add eggs and vanilla; mix until combined. Add the flour mixture one cup at a time; mix just until the flour is combined.
    • Mix chocolate morsels into the dough by hand with a silicone spatula.
    • Transfer and press the dough into the prepared baking pan.
    • Bake for 26 - 30 minutes, until lightly browned on the top. Sprinkle cookie bars with Maldon sea salt flakes immediately after removed from the oven. Allow cookie bars to cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 60 minutes. Remove cooled cookie bars from the pan and slice into 24 even squares. 
    • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days.

    Notes

    Freezer Storage: Store already baked cookies in an airtight container the freezer for up to 2 months.
    This recipe can be made with a hand electric mixer instead of a stand mixer.
    Elevate the look of your cookie bars by reserving ½ cup of the chocolate morsels and sprinkling them on top of the cookie bars after they have been pressed into the baking pan.
    Want to see how brown butter is made? Watch this quick 60 second video guide on how to make brown butter.
    Make sure you are measuring your flour correctly if you're not using a digital food scale. The proper way to measure flour is:
      1. Fluff up the flour using a spoon.
      2. Scoop the flour into the measuring cup.
      3. Level off the top of the measuring cup with a knife to remove excess flour.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie barCalories: 324kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 4gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 119mgPotassium: 166mgFiber: 2gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 280IUCalcium: 29mgIron: 2mg
    Have you tried this recipe?Tag @homebody.eats on Instagram so we can see your creations!

    More Cookie Recipes

    • blueberry cookies topped with white chocolate drizzle next to a bowl of fresh blueberries.
      Chewy Blueberry White Chocolate Cookies
    • chocolate cookies filled with caramel laying on a surface sprinkled with cocoa powder.
      Salted Caramel Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
    • shortbread cookie cake topped berries in the shape of the letter P.
      Shortbread Letter Cookie Cake With Berries
    • macadamia nut cookies drizzled with white chocolate.
      White Chocolate Chip Cookies with Macadamia Nuts

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Katie

      November 13, 2021 at 10:19 pm

      5 stars
      So tasty! If you’re a peanut butter and chocolate fan, you’ve gotta make these. Super easy recipe to follow

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Jessica! Here, you'll find delicious & fresh recipes that will help you learn to master a new skill in the kitchen!

    More about me →

    Fall Cocktail Recipes

    • chocolate martini garnished with chocolate shavings next to Godiva chocolate liqueur bottle.
      Godiva Chocolate Martini (5 Ingredients)
    • Baileys white Russian cocktail in a lowball glass.
      Baileys White Russian (3 Ingredients)
    • cocktail in lowball glass next to Skrewball whiskey bottle and plate with brown sugar.
      Skrewball and Baileys Sugar Cookie Cocktail
    • two wine glasses filled with red wine sangria.
      Cabernet Sauvignon Winter Sangria Pitcher

    Fall Desserts

    • sweet potato pocket pies.
      Mini Sweet Potato Pocket Pies With Premade Pie Crust
    • chocolate cookies filled with caramel laying on a surface sprinkled with cocoa powder.
      Salted Caramel Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
    • apple ice cream in waffle cone.
      Best Caramel Apple Pie Ice Cream
    • chewy caramel blondie cookies.
      Chewy Caramel Blondies

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    Learn About Us
    Privacy Policy
    Accessibility Statement

    Disclaimer
    Terms of Use

    Newsletter

    Sign Up for weekly emails and updates

    Contact

    Contact Us
    Work With Us

    As an LTK & Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Homebody Eats