Oven-Baked Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars with Sea Salt
Rich, chewy chocolate chip cookie bars baked in a pan and topped with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for a perfect sweet-salty balance. This american-inspired desserts ready in about 45 minutes layers unsalted butter, melted, brown sugar, packed, granulated sugar into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 12, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 tsp flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup melted unsalted butter, 1 cup packed brown sugar, and 1/2 cup granulated sugar until smooth and slightly glossy.
- Step 2: Add 2 tsp vanilla extract and 2 large eggs to the butter mixture, beating well until combined and fluffy.
- Step 3: In a separate bowl, sift together 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, and 1/2 tsp salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring just until incorporated.
- Step 4: Fold in 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips evenly throughout the dough.
- Step 5: Spread the dough evenly in a greased 9x13-inch baking pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula.
- Step 6: Sprinkle 1 tsp flaky sea salt evenly over the top of the dough.
- Step 7: Bake for 25-30 minutes until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Step 8: Allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before slicing into 12 squares.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Oven-Baked Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars with Sea Salt take to make?
Total time is about 45 minutes (15 min prep + 30 min cook). Most home bakers find this fits a weekend afternoon; chill or store as the recipe directs before serving.
How do I store leftover Oven-Baked Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars with Sea Salt?
Cool fully before storing. Most baked desserts keep at room temperature in an airtight container for 2–3 days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cream- or custard-based desserts must go in the fridge within 2 hours; reheat gently or serve cold per the recipe.
Can I substitute ingredients in Oven-Baked Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars with Sea Salt?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Oven-Baked Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars with Sea Salt for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 12 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 12). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Oven-Baked Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars with Sea Salt?
American desserts like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
