Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

These brown butter chocolate chip cookie bars are easy to make and very soft and chewy. They are made with brown butter and a no chill recipe. It is filled with chocolate chips and mini chocolate chips.

These brown butter chocolate chip cookie bars are better than individual cookies because they are even easier, but with the same delicious cookie flavor! It is like the best chocolate chip cookie recipes, except you just put the cookie dough in a pan! This makes it easier than classic chocolate chip cookies since the pan keeps their shape for them. This is also why they have less flour, as they would become cakey instead since they don't spread. They are perfect for serving with ice cream!

For more brown butter dessert recipes, try Brown Butter Snickerdoodle Cookies, Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Thick Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Jump to:

• Why This Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar Recipe Works
• Ingredient Notes for Best Cookie Bars
• Ingredient Substitutions
• Step By Step Instructions
• Expert Baking Tips
• FAQ
• How Do You Tell When a Cookie Bar Is Done?
• Recipe Variations
• Special Tools
• Storing and Freezing
• 📖 Recipe

Why This Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar Recipe Works

• Brown butter flavor- The addition of brown butter adds a rich and nutty flavor that makes these brown butter chocolate chip bars have a richer deeper flavor.
• Easy recipe- This recipe is very easy to make. It is is easier than making a homemade chocolate chip cookie since the pan keeps the shape for it! No spreading!
• No chill time- This recipe can be made right away with no waiting as the ingredients do no need to be brought to room temperature first and the dough doesn't need to chill! It is the best way to get bar cookies fast!
• No electric mixer- This recipe is so simple it doesn't even need a hand mixer, let alone a stand mixer. Just whisk and mix!

Ingredient Notes for Best Cookie Bars

Here are some notes on the ingredients. For a full list of ingredients, check out the recipe card below.

• Unsalted butter- Brown this butter first so it can cool. You should end with ¾ cup of browned butter.
• Brown sugar- I used light brown sugar for this, but dark brown sugar will work as well.
• Large eggs- Add these in still cold from the fridge. If you do not keep your eggs in the fridge then chill these first so they cool down the brown butter when added.
• Chocolate chips- I used semi-sweet chocolate chips. I do not recommend milk chocolate chips as they will be too sweet.

Ingredient Substitutions

• Dairy free- You can use your favorite dairy free options for this recipe!
• Gluten free- I haven't tested this gluten free. Let me know if you do.

Step By Step Instructions

Here is how to make these brown butter chocolate chip cookie bars.

STEP 1: Make brown butter. Melt butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Stir it occasionally and keep heating until milk solids separate and become amber in color. Pour it in a glass container to cool in the fridge.

Note: The butter will first start to bubble up, then start to become foamy. Once it is foamy they will turn amber quickly so keep an eye on it.

STEP 2: Prep. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Meanwhile, spray a 9X9 baking pan with baking spray. Place parchment paper so it lines the bottom of the pan and comes up on 2 sides high enough to act as handles. Spray it again.

STEP 3: Dry ingredients. Mix the all purpose flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.

STEP 4: Wet ingredients. Whisk the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and browned butter together in a large bowl. Add the vanilla extract and cold eggs. Whisk them until smooth.

STEP 5: Combine. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix them in with a rubber spatula. Add the chocolate chips and mini chocolate chips before mixing them in, too. This should be a runny batter.

STEP 6: Pour. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly. Add a sprinkle of chocolate chips and mini chocolate chips to decorate and lightly press them in.

STEP 7: Bake. Bake it for 27-30 minutes. It is done when the top is lightly golden brown.

STEP 8: Cool. Let the cookie bars cool completely in the pan before taking them out to serve.

Expert Baking Tips

• Properly measure your flour- Make sure the flour is spooned and leveled. If you stick the measuring cup directly into the flour, it will compact the flour giving you too much flour.
• Make sure to thoroughly spray the pan with baking spray to make sure it is easy to remove from the pan. It also helps to use parchment paper to lift it out, so leave plenty coming up the sides. If it is sticking you can use a knife to separate it from the sides of the pan.
• The cookie bars should be slightly underdone when they first come out of the oven. They will continue to bake as they cool.

FAQ

How Do You Tell When a Cookie Bar Is Done?

The edges will be golden brown. The center will be slightly underbaked because it will continue to bake as it cools down.

Recipe Variations

• Butterscotch cookie bars- Replace the full size chocolate chips with butterscotch chips for a butterscotch cookie bar.
• Peanut butter cookie bar- Replace the full size chocolate chips with peanut butter chips for a peanut butter cookie bar.
• Oreo cookie bar- Add crushed Oreo pieces to the dough for an Oreo cookie bar.

Special Tools

• 9X9 pan: I use metal square pans for baking. I don't recommend glass pans.
• Parchment paper: I use premade sheets of parchment paper vs the roll of parchment paper. It makes baking a lot easier!
• Baking spray: I use the nonstick spray that has flour in it.

Storing and Freezing

Store the brown butter cookie bars at room temperature in an air-tight container up to 5 days.

Freeze the baked cookie bars in an airtight container and freeze up to 30 days. Thaw for 1-2 hours before eating.

Other Dessert Bar Recipes To Try

Try these cookie recipes too!

• The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies

Make sure to leave a STAR REVIEW if you loved this recipe! Make sure to tag me on Instagram @stephaniesweettreats. To get more ideas follow me on Pinterest.

📖 Recipe