Description
Classic chocolate chip bars showcase creamy butter and rich chocolate in an irresistible dessert. Home bakers will discover a simple recipe delivering sweet comfort with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ¼ cups (270g) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (200g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup (200g) light brown sugar, packed
- ⅔ cup (133g) granulated sugar
- ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp (15mL) vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F with the rack positioned centrally for uniform heat distribution. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, creating overhanging edges for effortless removal.
- Butter Mixture: Melt butter and allow to cool briefly. In a large bowl, whisk melted butter with brown and granulated sugars until smooth and slightly lightened in color.
- Wet Ingredients: Integrate eggs individually into the sugar mixture, beating thoroughly after each addition. Add vanilla extract and mix completely.
- Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, blend flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt until uniformly combined. Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, avoiding overmixing to maintain a tender consistency.
- Chocolate Integration: Incorporate most chocolate chips into the batter, reserving a small portion for surface decoration. Transfer batter to prepared pan, spreading evenly and smoothing the surface.
- Topping and Baking: Sprinkle remaining chocolate chips across the batter, gently pressing them in. Bake for 33-37 minutes, rotating pan midway to ensure consistent browning.
- Cooling and Serving: Test doneness with a toothpick – it should reveal moist crumbs. Allow bars to cool completely in the pan for 60-90 minutes. Lift out using parchment paper handles and slice into squares with a sharp knife.
Notes
- Butter Melting Tip: Cool melted butter for a few minutes to prevent accidentally cooking the eggs when mixing, ensuring a smooth, cohesive batter.
- Mixing Technique: Fold dry ingredients gently into wet ingredients until just combined, avoiding overmixing to maintain a tender, soft bar texture.
- Chocolate Chip Distribution: Reserve a small handful of chocolate chips to sprinkle on top for a visually appealing and extra chocolatey finish.
- Cooling Crucial: Allow bars to cool completely for 60-90 minutes, which helps them set properly and makes cutting into clean, neat squares much easier.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 345
- Sugar: 23g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 50mg