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Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars for Tailgating

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These chocolate chip cookie bars are the perfect tailgate dessert—sturdy, portable, and packed with chewy centers and crispy caramelized edges. Made with simple pantry ingredients, they travel well and taste even better the next day.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks / 226g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup (200g) light brown sugar, packed
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 ¼ cups (280g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups (340g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • Optional: flaky sea salt for topping

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving about 2 inches of overhang on the two long sides.
  2. In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter in 30-second bursts until just melted. Let it cool for 2-3 minutes.
  3. Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar to the melted butter. Whisk vigorously for about 30 seconds until smooth and slightly thickened.
  4. Add the eggs and vanilla, whisk until well combined and glossy, about 1 minute.
  5. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  6. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Fold with a spatula until just combined—a few streaks of flour are okay.
  7. Fold in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed. Reserve ¼ cup for topping if desired.
  8. Transfer the dough to the prepared pan. Press evenly into the corners using a spatula or lightly greased fingers.
  9. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until edges are golden brown and center is set but still soft. A toothpick inserted should come out with moist crumbs.
  10. Cool completely in the pan on a cooling rack for at least 1 hour.
  11. Use the parchment overhang to lift the slab onto a cutting board. Cut into 12 large or 24 small squares with a sharp knife.

Notes

For cleaner cuts, chill the slab in the fridge for 30 minutes before cutting. These bars taste even better on day two. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: chocolate chip cookie bars, tailgate dessert, easy cookie bars, chewy cookie bars, crowd-pleasing dessert

Find it online: https://livelybite.com/best-chocolate-chip-cookie-bars-for-tailgating/