Ultimate Chewy Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars: An Easy Recipe for Crowd-Pleasing Bliss
There’s something truly magical about a classic chocolate chip cookie. It’s a timeless treat that evokes comfort and joy with every bite. From rich Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies to decadent Nutella-Stuffed variations, and even playful Sprinkle Chocolate Chip Cookies or indulgent Bakery Copycats, the versatility of this beloved dessert is endless. As avid bakers, our love for chocolate chip cookies runs deep!
However, when that irresistible craving for classic chocolate chip cookies hits, but you’re short on time or simply don’t feel like the meticulous process of scooping and rolling individual cookies, our **easy Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars** come to the rescue. These bars are an exceptional addition to any dessert platter, potluck, or festive gathering, delivering all the beloved flavor and delightful chewiness of traditional chocolate chip cookies with the effortless preparation of a brownie or bar.
What makes these **gluten-free cookie bars** even better is that they rely on simple, wholesome ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. No obscure specialty items required! These **gluten-free chocolate chip blondies** offer a convenient and delicious solution for satisfying your sweet tooth without compromising on taste or texture. You’ll be amazed at how quickly these come together, transforming everyday staples into an extraordinary treat.
Get ready to bake a batch of these fudgy, chocolate-packed delights. Here’s a closer look at the key ingredients that make these **chewy gluten-free cookie bars** so special and incredibly easy to make…
Baking Deliciousness: Essential Ingredients for Our Gluten-Free Cookie Bars
These incredibly fudgy and satisfyingly chewy **gluten-free chocolate chip cookie bars** are crafted from many of the same foundational ingredients you’d find in your favorite classic chocolate chip cookie recipe. We keep things straightforward, ensuring that deliciousness is easily accessible with pantry staples:
- Melted Butter: The secret to a denser, more fudgy texture in these cookie bars is using melted butter instead of creaming softened butter. This method prevents excessive air incorporation, resulting in a wonderfully rich and chewy bar that melts in your mouth.
- Brown Sugar & Granulated Sugar: A thoughtfully balanced blend of both brown and granulated sugars is crucial. Brown sugar contributes moisture, chewiness, and a lovely caramel note, while granulated sugar adds structure and helps achieve those slightly crisp edges. This combination ensures a complex flavor and ideal texture for our **gluten-free blondies**.
- An Egg & An Egg Yolk: This specific combination provides an almost fudgy, dense consistency to the cookie bars. The extra egg yolk adds richness and helps bind the ingredients, preventing a crumbly texture – a trick we frequently employ in our most beloved cookie recipes, such as our Brown Butter Toffee Cookies.
- Vanilla Extract: To truly elevate the flavor, we call for a generous Tablespoon of pure vanilla extract. This isn’t a typo! A full tablespoon ensures a deep, aromatic vanilla presence that complements the chocolate perfectly. You can also use an equal amount of vanilla bean paste for beautiful vanilla flecks throughout the bars.
- Gluten-Free Flour Blend: For consistent and reliable results, we highly recommend a high-quality measure-for-measure gluten-free flour blend. Our top choice is King Arthur’s blend, which we use for virtually all our gluten-free cookies, brownies, and cakes. It’s essential that your chosen 1:1 flour blend **contains xanthan gum** to provide structure and prevent the bars from becoming crumbly. Please avoid substituting with almond flour or coconut flour, as their unique properties will not yield the desired results in this recipe.
- Cornstarch: A small but mighty addition, cornstarch plays a vital role in achieving the perfect soft and tender texture. It helps keep these bars from becoming cakey or gritty, ensuring that signature chewy bite.
- Salt: Don’t underestimate the power of salt in baking! After extensive testing, we found that a slightly more generous amount of kosher salt perfectly balances the sweetness of the sugars and enhances the chocolate flavor. Adjust to your taste if using fine table salt.
- Baking Soda: This leavening agent is carefully measured to provide just the right amount of lift and spread, contributing to the soft, chewy interior and slightly crisp exterior of the **chocolate chip cookie bars**.
- Plenty Of Chocolate Chips: The star of the show! Our go-to for these **gluten-free cookie bars** are semisweet chocolate chips, which offer a classic, balanced chocolate flavor. However, feel free to experiment! Dark chocolate chips will deliver a more intense chocolate experience, while milk chocolate chips will result in an even sweeter, creamier bar.
Essential Baking Tips for Perfect Gluten-Free Cookie Bars
Achieving baking success, especially with gluten-free recipes, often comes down to mastering a few fundamental techniques. To help you create the best possible **gluten-free chocolate chip cookie bars**, we’ve gathered some invaluable tips and resources:
- How to Separate Egg Yolks & Egg Whites: Our recipe specifically calls for an egg yolk to achieve that rich, fudgy texture. Knowing how to efficiently separate eggs ensures you get the precise amount needed for perfect results.
- How to Measure Flour Correctly: Accurate flour measurement is paramount in gluten-free baking. Too much flour can lead to dry, dense bars, while too little can make them too soft. Always use the “scoop and level” method or, ideally, weigh your flour for consistent precision.
- How to Check If Your Baking Soda & Baking Powder Are Fresh: Leavening agents lose potency over time. Fresh baking soda is crucial for the proper rise and texture of your cookie bars. A quick freshness test can save your bake!
- How to Brown Butter: As you’ll see in our tips section, browning your butter can add an incredible depth of flavor. Learn the simple steps to transform regular butter into a nutty, aromatic ingredient.
- 8 Essential Cookie Tools We Use All The Time: Having the right tools makes baking easier and more enjoyable. From mixing bowls to baking pans, a few key items can significantly streamline your process.
Baking Success: A Step-by-Step Guide to Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
For precise ingredient measurements, detailed instructions, and additional expert tips, please refer to the comprehensive recipe card below.
Crafting these delectable **gluten-free chocolate chip cookie bars** is a straightforward process that yields impressive results. Follow these simple steps for perfectly baked, chewy, and chocolatey bars every time:
- Preheat Oven & Prepare Pan: Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175°C). Line a metal 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, allowing some overhang on the sides. This “sling” will make it incredibly easy to lift the cooled bars out of the pan. Avoid using glass or ceramic pans, as they conduct heat differently and can lead to uneven baking or overly browned edges.
- Combine Dry Ingredients Thoroughly: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together your gluten-free flour blend, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda. Whisking ensures all dry ingredients are evenly distributed, which is crucial for uniform texture and flavor in every bite of your **gluten-free blondies**. Set this mixture aside.
- Mix Butter and Sugars for the Base: In a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the cooled melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Mix on low speed until they are just combined and appear smooth. Avoid overmixing at this stage, as it can introduce too much air, leading to a cakier rather than fudgy texture.
- Incorporate Wet Ingredients for Richness: Add the large egg, egg yolk, and the generous tablespoon of vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix until everything is well combined and the mixture is smooth and cohesive. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to ensure all ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Gradually Add Dry Mixture: Slowly add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until the flour is mostly incorporated, leaving just a few powdery streaks visible. It’s important not to overmix here; stopping early prevents the development of a tough texture.
- Fold in the Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in your chosen chocolate chips using a spatula. Continue folding just until the chocolate chips are evenly distributed throughout the rich cookie dough. This ensures plenty of chocolate in every delicious mouthful of your **chocolate chip cookie bars**.
- Press Dough into Prepared Pan: Transfer the cookie dough to your parchment-lined 8×8-inch baking pan. Using a rubber spatula or your hands (lightly greased if the dough is sticky), press the dough firmly and evenly into the pan. Smooth the top to create a uniform layer, ensuring consistent baking.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. The bars are ready when the edges are visibly set and golden brown, and the top has a light golden hue. The center may still appear slightly soft or underdone; this is normal for chewy bars. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached, indicating they are cooked through but not overbaked.
- Crucial Cooling Step: This step is non-negotiable for perfectly set **gluten-free cookie bars**. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 25-30 minutes, or ideally, until they reach room temperature. Cooling allows the bars to firm up and fully set, ensuring that desirable thick, chewy texture. If desired, sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips and a pinch of flaky sea salt on top while the bars are still warm to create a beautiful finish and enhance flavor.
- Cut, Serve & Store: Once completely cooled and set, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the entire slab of cookie bars from the pan. Cut them into your desired sizes – whether it’s 9 generous large squares, 12 elegant rectangles, 16 smaller squares, or even 18 small rectangles (by halving the large squares). Store any leftover **easy gluten-free chocolate chip cookie bars** in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, or freeze them for up to 2 months for a delightful treat anytime!
FAQ & Pro Tips for Your Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Even though this recipe for **easy gluten-free cookie bars** is straightforward, a few expert tips and answers to common questions can help you achieve truly exceptional results and customize them to your liking. Get ready to elevate your baking!
Enhance Flavor with Brown Butter! For an extraordinary depth of flavor, consider making these with browned butter. Browning the butter adds a rich, nutty, and subtly caramel-like note that beautifully complements the chocolate chips. Simply brown your butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat until it turns a deep golden color and fragrant brown bits appear at the bottom. Allow it to cool slightly before incorporating it into the recipe as directed. This simple step truly takes your **gluten-free blondies** to the next level!
Can I Make Them Dairy-Free? While I haven’t personally tested a dairy-free version of these **chocolate chip cookie bars**, I believe they would adapt well using high-quality vegan butter sticks (such as Earth Balance) and dairy-free chocolate chips (like Enjoy Life brand). Vegan butter sticks typically have a similar fat content and behavior to dairy butter. However, I highly recommend against using coconut oil, as its different fat composition and flavor profile may significantly alter the texture and taste of the finished bars.
Precision is Key: Measure Flour Carefully! In gluten-free baking, accurate flour measurement is particularly crucial. Using too much flour can result in dry, dense, and crumbly bars, while too little may prevent them from setting up properly, leading to a greasy or overly soft texture. For the most reliable results, we strongly recommend weighing your gluten-free flour blend with a kitchen scale. If you don’t have a scale, use the scoop and level method: gently spoon the flour into your measuring cup until it overflows, then level it off with the straight edge of a knife. Never pack the flour into the cup.
Elevate the Chocolate Experience with Chocolate Chunks! For a more artisanal appearance and bigger, luscious puddles of melted chocolate in your bars, substitute chocolate chips with an equal amount of high-quality chopped chocolate. Choose your favorite bar of milk, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate and roughly chop it. The irregular sizes of chocolate chunks create a stunning visual and textural contrast.
Experiment with Other Delicious Mix-Ins. These **easy gluten-free cookie bars** are a fantastic canvas for your creativity! Feel free to customize them with other favorite mix-ins. Consider adding chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans), colorful M&Ms, creamy white chocolate chips, crunchy toffee bits, or even chopped pieces of your favorite candy bars. Adjust the total quantity of mix-ins to about 1.5 cups to maintain the dough’s consistency.
How to Store Your Cookie Bars: Once cooled, store your **gluten-free chocolate chip cookie bars** in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain their freshness and chewy texture. For longer storage, wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap and then place them in an airtight freezer-safe bag or container. They can be frozen for up to 2 months and thawed at room temperature for a quick treat.
Can I Double the Recipe? Yes, you can absolutely double this recipe! If doubling, we recommend baking in a 9×13-inch baking pan. The baking time might need to be adjusted slightly, typically ranging from 30-40 minutes, but always check for golden edges and a clean toothpick test in the center. Ensure all ingredients are properly scaled for best results.
More Irresistible Gluten-Free Cookie Bars To Try
Gluten-Free Sugar Cookie Bars
Gluten-Free Oatmeal Fudge Bars
Gluten-Free S’mores Bars
WE ♥
Recipe Card: Easy Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
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Print Recipe
Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
5 from 3 reviews
Author: Emily Dixon, Sweets & Thank You
Total Time: 28 minutes
Yield: 12-18 cookie bars
Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Our easy Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars recipe is the perfect cookie bar for a crowd! We love the thick, chewy texture and plenty of chocolate in every bite!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup (6 oz./12 Tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and cooled 5 minutes*
- 1 cup (200 grams) packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 egg yolk (reserve the white for another culinary use)
- 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- 2 cups (240 grams) gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend, precisely weighed or scooped and leveled
- 2 Tablespoons (16 grams) cornstarch
- 1 heaping teaspoon kosher salt (if using fine salt/table salt, reduce this amount to 1/2-3/4 teaspoon, to taste)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 cup (9 oz/255 grams) semisweet chocolate chips
- Optional: a sprinkle of extra chocolate chips or flaky sea salt to garnish the warm cookie bars
Instructions
- Preheat & Prep. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175°C). Line a sturdy metal 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang on two opposite sides to create a “sling.” This will help you easily lift the baked bars from the pan after cooling. Note: Using a metal pan is recommended over glass or ceramic, as metal ensures more even baking and prevents the edges from becoming too dark.
- Combine the dry ingredients. In a medium mixing bowl, thoroughly whisk together the gluten-free flour blend, cornstarch, kosher salt, and baking soda. Whisking ensures all dry ingredients are uniformly combined, which is essential for consistent flavor and texture throughout your cookie bars. Set this mixture aside.
- Mix Butter & Sugars. In a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the cooled melted butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Mix on medium-low speed until the ingredients are just combined and appear smooth. Avoid overmixing, as this can incorporate too much air, leading to a cakier rather than a fudgy bar.
- Add Egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Incorporate the large egg, the additional egg yolk, and the pure vanilla extract into the butter and sugar mixture. Mix until everything is fully combined and smooth. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to ensure all components are well-integrated.
- Mix in the dry ingredients. Gradually add the whisked dry ingredient mixture to the wet mixture. Mix on low speed until the flour is mostly incorporated, with just a few powdery streaks remaining. Stop mixing at this point to prevent overdevelopment of the gluten-free flour blend, which can lead to a tougher texture.
- Add the chocolate chips. Fold in the semisweet chocolate chips using a spatula. Continue folding until the chocolate chips are evenly distributed throughout the rich cookie dough. This ensures a delightful burst of chocolate in every bite.
- Pat the dough out. Transfer the prepared cookie dough into your parchment-lined baking pan. Using a rubber spatula or your hands (you can lightly grease them if the dough is sticky), press the dough firmly and evenly into the pan to create a smooth, uniform layer.
- Bake the cookie bars. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. The bars are ready when the edges are set and a beautiful golden brown, and the center appears slightly soft. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached, indicating a perfectly fudgy and cooked interior.
- Let the cookie bars cool. This is a critical step! Allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 25-30 minutes, or until they reach room temperature. Cooling is essential for the bars to firm up and fully set, ensuring their ideal chewy texture. If desired, sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips and a touch of flaky sea salt on top while the bars are still warm for enhanced flavor and visual appeal.
- Cut into bars and enjoy! Once thoroughly cooled, use the parchment paper sling to lift the entire slab of **gluten-free chocolate chip cookie bars** from the pan. Cut them into your preferred serving sizes: 9 large squares, 12 rectangular bars, 16 smaller squares, or even 18 smaller rectangles (by halving the 9 large squares). Store any leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, or freeze them for up to 2 months for a future treat.
Notes
- *Try Them With Brown Butter! For an extra layer of flavor and a rich, nutty, caramel-like note, consider making these with browned butter. To do so, melt the butter in a light-colored saucepan over medium or medium-low heat. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for 6-8 minutes, or until the butter begins to foam, bubble, and nutty brown bits settle at the bottom. Once the butter is deeply golden and fragrant, remove it from the heat and let it cool slightly (about 5-10 minutes) before proceeding with the recipe as directed.
- Gluten-Free Flour Choice. For consistently excellent results with these **chewy gluten-free cookie bars**, we highly recommend using King Arthur Measure-For-Measure Gluten-Free flour blend. If you opt for another brand (such as Bob’s Red Mill), ensure that the blend explicitly states it contains xanthan gum, which is vital for structure in gluten-free baking. Always measure your dry ingredients carefully; weighing them with a kitchen scale is the most accurate method. If you’re measuring by volume, use the “scoop and level” technique to avoid compacting too much flour into your measuring cups.
- The Importance of Cooling! It’s crucial to understand that these **gluten-free chocolate chip cookie bars** will not be fully set and fudgy straight out of the oven. They require adequate cooling time to firm up and develop their characteristic chewy texture. If you try to cut into them while they are still warm, the centers will be soft, gooey, and doughy. Patience during the cooling process will be rewarded with perfectly structured and delicious bars!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American