Ultimate Gooey Chocolate Chip Bars (Printable)

Soft, chewy bars with melty chocolate chips and a golden buttery crust, perfect for sharing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
05 - 1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
06 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

→ Add-Ins

09 - 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
10 - Optional: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, blend melted butter with brown sugar and granulated sugar until smooth and creamy.
04 - Add eggs one at a time to the wet mixture, blending well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
05 - Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just combined; avoid overmixing.
06 - Gently fold in semisweet chocolate chips and nuts, if using.
07 - Spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
08 - Bake for 23 to 28 minutes until edges are golden and center is set but still soft; do not overbake.
09 - Remove from oven and cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, lift out using parchment overhang and cut into 16 bars.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Soft and chewy texture
  • Perfect for sharing
02 -
  • For extra gooeyness, slightly underbake the bars and let them finish setting in the pan.
  • Swap semisweet chips for milk, dark, or white chocolate.
03 -
  • Add a sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top before baking for more flavor.
  • Serve warm with vanilla ice cream for a decadent treat.
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