Chewy Chocolate Chip Bars (Amish Recipe)

Toll House Cookie Bars

This Amish recipe for chewy chocolate chip bars is similar to Nestle's Toll House cookie bars recipe. They are so buttery, chewy, and 100% irresistible! The perfect treat when you need cookies but don't want to put forth much effort.

I love cookies! But some days there just isn't enough time to scoop and bake batches of cookies. And that's when cookie bar recipes come in handy. It's so quick to mix and bake a pan full of bars. And they make a great dessert or snack for any occasion.

How to Make Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

1. Cream the Butter and Sugars:
   • Place 1 ¾ sticks of softened butter into a mixing bowl.
   • Beat the butter until smooth.
   • Add ¾ cup brown sugar and ½ cup white sugar.
   • Beat on high speed until the mixture is well-creamed and fluffy.
2. Add Eggs and Vanilla:
   • Add eggs and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture.
   • Mix well until fully combined.
3. Prepare Dry Ingredients:
   • In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, 1 Tbsp. cornstarch, baking soda, and salt.
4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
   • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
   • Mix only until combined.
5. Add Chocolate Chips and Nuts:
   • Stir in the chocolate chips.
   • Optionally, stir in ½ - 1 cup of chopped pecans.
6. Spread and Bake:
   • Spread the cookie dough evenly into the greased 9x13" pan.
   • Bake in the preheated oven for about 23 - 28 minutes, or until the bars are set. (It's better to slightly underbake than overbake.)
7. Cool and Serve:
   • Allow the cookie bars to cool in the pan.
   • Once cooled, cut into bars.
   • Serve and enjoy!

Baking Cookie Bars

If you're looking for a great chocolate chip cookie recipe, I have one of those as well. But this recipe is for cookie bars.

And what exactly are "cookie bars"? They're basically the same thing as cookies. But the dough gets spread into a pan, baked, and cut into squares (or rectangles, whichever you please).

So the bars will typically end up being thicker than a cookie unless you bake them in a larger pan and spread them thin. But these chocolate chip bars have the same flavor as cookies and are delightfully thick and yummy!

If you prefer them slightly gooey, you can reduce the baking time and pull them from the oven before they're completely set. In fact, these bars are better when they are slightly underbaked rather than overbaked. Because they turn out a bit dry when overbaked.

So feel free to adjust the baking time based on your oven and personal preference for texture. Watch them closely once the edges are lightly browned.

The baking time will also vary a bit depending on the type of pan you use. I like to use metal pans since bars baked in glass pans tend to dry out more.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Should I use salted or unsalted butter? I use salted butter in every single recipe with butter. But if you're trying to cut back on salt, go ahead and use unsalted. It doesn't make any noticeable difference.
• What kind of chocolate chips should I use? You can use any kind that you like. Not sure why, but for some reason, milk and dark chocolate are my go-to's. But you could also switch things up and use butterscotch, cinnamon, mint chips, mini M&Ms, etc.
• I don't have any cornstarch on hand, can I make these bars without it? Yes, cornstarch is not a required ingredient to make great bars. Its purpose, however, is to help create a delightfully soft and chewy texture.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars 9x13" Pan

If I lived by myself, I might look for bar recipes that make a small pan full. But there are six of us in our home. And a small pan of bars disappears so fast that it barely feels like it was worth the time to make them.

So I always look for bar recipes that make a 9x13" pan like my coffee brownies, or even a sheet pan full like these Oat Fudge Bars, oatmeal chocolate chip bars, or Reese's Peanut Butter bars.

And the good news is that even if you live by yourself and don't eat lots of baked goods, you could still make this Amish recipe. Because these chocolate chip bars freeze well.

Cut them into squares, put most of them into an airtight container, and freeze them for later. They'll be great in the freezer for weeks and even months.

Then whenever you get a craving for something sweet, you can get out one bar, let it thaw, and enjoy a delicious treat that still tastes fresh.

More Amish Cookie Bars Recipes

Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars

Homemade Granola Bars

Links to Items I Used for This Recipe...

KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

PAMPERED CHEF #1659 SCRAPER SPATULA

Set of 2 Stainless Steel Mini Wood Handle, Slotted Solid Blade Cookie Spatula