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Chewy, delicious cookie bar recipes are perfect for any occasion, including potlucks and holiday, but the gooey result is well worth the wait!

More Collections: Sugar Cookie Recipes, Brownie Recipes, Easy Cookie Recipes

Collage of bar cookie recipes.

What’s Not to Love?

We love to make cookie bars, especially when we need to feed lots of people. They taste just like cookies, but are easier and quicker to make.

Some of our favorites include: Pan Chewies (aka Cookie Bars), Sugar Cookie Bars, and 7 Layer Bars.

Why we love them:

  • Feed a crowd in no time. Similar to a cookie, but baked in a bar, these whip up even easier and feed a big group!
  • The texture! Bar cookie recipes still have that chewy, soft center, and crisp crust making these a must-make dessert.
  • A taste for any occasion. With different flavors and toppings, we love to change up classic bars for holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s, and Easter.

Whether your cookie of choice is chewy Chocolate Chips, Sugar Cookies, or Oatmeal Cookies, or Snickerdoodles, we have bar forms of all of these that we know you will love!

Chocolate chip cookie bars cut on parchment paper.

Toppings

We love to add different toppings to our cookie bars to change up flavors or enhance the flavors of the bars. Some of these toppings include:

  • holiday sprinkles
  • chopped candies
  • milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips (white or butterscotch chips work too!)
  • chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans
  • sliced fruits and berries
  • frosting or glaze (we love our Sugar Cookie frosting!)
  • Caramel Sauce or caramel drizzle
  • flaky sea salt
  • coconut flakes
Two carmelitas bars stacked on a white plate.

Our Top Pan Tip

Lining the pan. No matter what type of pan you use, I suggest you always line the pan with parchment paper or foil. This makes it significantly easier to cut and remove the baked treat with clean, even cuts.

  • Leave extra lining so there is enough for you to grab and lift.
  • Spray the pan with cooking spray before adding the parchment paper.
  • Always allow the treat to cool before removing it from the pan.

For more tips and tricks, check out our How to Line a Pan with Parchment Paper article.

Several sugar cookie bars frosting with pink frosting and colored sprinkles.
  • Double it. Some recipes are designed for an 8×8 pan, while others call for a 9×11 or a 9×13. No matter the pan size, recipes can be doubled for extra treats. See the individual recipe for further instructions.
  • Room temperature ingredients incorporate better with the other ingredients and add air to the dough which helps create a fluffy, soft texture (check out our How to Soften Butter post if you need softened butter in a pinch).
  • Doneness. For cake-like bars, stick a wooden pick in the center of the pan. If it comes out clean, or with a few moist crumbs, then the cookies are done. Chewy bars will have a dull surface. If you press gently, a slight imprint will remain.
  • Clean cuts. Wait at least 20 minutes before cutting.

We LOVE to change things up and make cookie bars for family get-togethers. They are easy and feed a crowd! Whip up a few batches and serve them warm with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream, and you won’t regret it!

1 Cookie Bars Recipe

Dessert Cookie Bars Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes

Recipe Video

4.93 from 89 votes
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2 7 Layer Bars Recipe

Dessert 7 Layer Bars Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 55 votes
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3 Sugar Cookie Bars

Dessert Sugar Cookie Bars
Total Time: 35 minutes

Recipe Video

4.90 from 28 votes
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4 M&M Chocolate Bars Recipe

Dessert M&M Chocolate Bars Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 76 votes
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5 Carmelitas Recipe

Dessert Carmelitas Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 60 votes
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6 Millionaire Bars Recipe

Dessert Millionaire Bars Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
4.77 from 17 votes
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7 Monster Cookie Bars Recipe

Dessert Monster Cookie Bars Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes
5 from 9 votes
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8 Christmas Cookie Bar Recipe

Dessert Christmas Cookie Bar Recipe
Total Time: 28 minutes
5 from 13 votes
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9 Snickerdoodle Bars Recipe

Breakfast, Dessert Snickerdoodle Bars Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes
5 from 13 votes
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10 M&M Chocolate Bars Recipe

Dessert M&M Chocolate Bars Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 76 votes
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11 Magic Bars Recipe

Dessert Magic Bars Recipe
Total Time: 44 minutes
5 from 12 votes

12 Cake Mix Cookie Bars Recipe

Dessert Cake Mix Cookie Bars Recipe
Total Time: 29 minutes

Recipe Video

4.91 from 33 votes
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13 Reese’s Pieces Bars Recipe

Dessert Reese’s Pieces Bars Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes
5 from 19 votes
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14 Peanut Butter Cookie Bars Recipe

Dessert Peanut Butter Cookie Bars Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes
5 from 16 votes
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15 Almond Toffee Bars Recipe

Dessert Almond Toffee Bars Recipe
Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes
5 from 3 votes
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If you love Chocolate Chip Cookies, then you’ll love these chewy chocolate chip Cookie Bars.

We often serve them with Vanilla Ice Cream and Chocolate Syrup, and I can safely say EVERYONE in the family loves them.

Here is the recipe:

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10+ Cookie Bar Recipes

By: Lil’ Luna
Dense and delicious cookie bar recipes are perfect for any occasion. They may take a bit more time to cook, but the gooey result is well worth the wait!
Servings: 15
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 2 cups packed light brown sugar
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter melted
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour sifted
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • cups chocolate chips semisweet or milk

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Grease a 9×13 glass baking dish and set aside.
  • Combine brown sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla in a medium-sized bowl and mix well with a wooden spoon.
  • Gradually add flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Stir until well combined and pour into the prepared baking dish.
  • Sprinkle with chocolate chips and bake for 24–28 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan before cutting.

Notes

Make Ahead: Covered tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap, these will keep on the counter for up to 3 days. To reheat, just place in the microwave for 15 seconds to make them gooey and warm.
Variations: You can swap out the chocolate chips for a variety of other toppings to change up these bars. Here are some of our favorite combinations:
o White chocolate chips + butterscotch chips
o M&M’s (we love to use colored M&M’s for the different holidays!)
o Chocolate chips + toffee bits or peanut butter chips

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar, Calories: 354kcal, Carbohydrates: 54g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 49mg, Sodium: 204mg, Potassium: 95mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 40g, Vitamin A: 356IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 65mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Making this recipe? Tag us!
Share it with us on Instagram using the hashtag #lilluna, so we can see what you’re creating in the kitchen!

Sweet Treats for Sharing!

Whether you’re looking for a treat for a special occasion or an everyday snack, you’re sure to find several new recipes you’ll love on this list!

Be sure to check out all of our Cookie Recipes!

More Collections: Chocolate Cake Recipes, Dessert Bar Recipes, Easy Cake Recipes

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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