Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookie Bars Recipe Magic

Chocolate chip shortbread cookie bars blend classic comfort with irresistible sweetness, converting a traditional Scottish treat into a modern dessert sensation.

Buttery, crumbly textures mingle with rich chocolate morsels, creating a decadent experience that melts effortlessly on your tongue.

Centuries of baking tradition inspire this delightful recipe, elevating simple ingredients into an extraordinary culinary creation.

Crisp edges and soft centers define these indulgent bars, promising a sensory journey through layers of flavor and texture.

Minimal ingredients and straightforward techniques make this recipe accessible for bakers of all skill levels.

Each bite promises a perfect balance between delicate shortbread and intense chocolate notes that dance across your palate.

The elegant simplicity of these bars belies their remarkable depth of flavor and satisfying richness.

Why Chocolate Chip Shortbread Is Always a Hit

• Unlock Buttery Bliss: These shortbread bars melt in your mouth with rich, creamy butter that creates an incredibly smooth texture and deep, comforting flavor.
• Customize Your Chocolate Dream: Swap chocolate chips for white chocolate, dark chocolate, or mix different varieties to personalize your bars and create a unique taste experience every time.
• Super Simple Baking Magic: With just one bowl and minimal ingredients, even beginner bakers can whip up these delightful bars in under 45 minutes, making them perfect for quick dessert cravings or last-minute sweet treats.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Whether served at afternoon tea, packed in lunchboxes, or enjoyed as an after-dinner indulgence, these chocolate chip shortbread bars are guaranteed to bring smiles to everyone's faces with their classic, irresistible taste.

What You’ll Need for These Cookie Bars

• Butter: Rich, creamy foundation that provides tender texture and deep flavor.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cookie bars and helps create golden crisp edges.
• All-Purpose Flour: Structural component that gives the shortbread its classic crumbly consistency.

• Chocolate Chips: Classic sweet morsels that add rich chocolate bursts throughout the bars.
• Vanilla Extract: Warm, aromatic flavoring that deepens the overall taste profile.
• Almond Extract: Subtle nutty accent that complements the shortbread's buttery base.

• Egg: Helps bind ingredients and provides additional richness to the texture.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor complexity.
• Parchment Paper: Essential for easy removal and clean cutting of the baked bars.

Your Guide to Shortbread Cookie Bar Success

Step 1: Prepare Baking Workspace

Warm up the oven to 350°F. Grab an 8×8 inch baking pan and line it completely with parchment paper, letting some hang over the edges for easy removal.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar

In a spacious mixing bowl, whip together softened butter and sugar until the mixture becomes light, airy, and looks like fluffy clouds.

Step 3: Add Flavor Boosters

• Egg
• Vanilla extract
• Almond extract
• Salt

Blend everything until smooth and well combined.

Step 4: Create Cookie Dough

Gently fold in flour, stirring until the mixture just comes together. Be careful not to overmix. Then tenderly fold in chocolate chips, distributing them evenly throughout the dough.

Step 5: Shape and Settle Dough

Transfer the cookie dough into the prepared pan. Use your hands or a spatula to press the dough evenly, creating a smooth, flat surface that reaches all corners.

Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the pan into the preheated oven. Bake for 28-30 minutes, watching for a beautiful golden-brown color across the top.

Step 7: Cool and Slice

Remove from oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, lift out using the parchment paper overhang. Slice into delectable bars ready to enjoy.

Tips to Bake with Perfect Edges and Crunch

• Chill the Dough: Refrigerate the mixture for 15-20 minutes before pressing into the pan to prevent spreading and enhance the texture.
• Choose Quality Chocolate: Use high-quality chocolate chips or chunks for richer, more complex flavor and better melting properties.
• Measure Flour Accurately: Spoon flour into the measuring cup and level with a knife to avoid dense, dry bars.
• Check for Golden Edges: Watch for light golden brown edges as the key indicator of perfect doneness, preventing over-baking.
• Create Clean Cuts: Let bars cool completely and use a sharp knife wiped clean between cuts for precise, neat squares.

Storing Cookie Bars for Snack Time Later

• Refrigerate: Store cooled cookie bars in an airtight container lined with parchment paper. Keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to maintain freshness and prevent chocolate from melting.
• Freeze: Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for soft, delicious bars.
• Reheat: Warm briefly in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or place in a preheated 300°F oven for 3-5 minutes to restore that fresh-baked warmth and soft texture.

Best Matches for Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

• Pair with Creamy Espresso: Complement the rich chocolate chip shortbread with a smooth, velvety espresso. The coffee's bold flavor cuts through the buttery sweetness, creating a harmonious taste experience that elevates both the cookie and the drink.
• Match with Caramel Cream Liqueur: Drizzle a chilled caramel cream liqueur alongside these bars for a decadent treat. The liqueur's smooth, sweet notes blend perfectly with the chocolate and shortbread's texture, offering a luxurious dessert moment.
• Serve with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Top the warm shortbread bars with a scoop of creamy vanilla bean ice cream. The cold, smooth vanilla provides a delightful contrast to the warm, crumbly cookies, creating a classic and irresistible dessert combination.
• Accompany with Toasted Almond Milk: Enjoy these cookies with a glass of slightly warmed, toasted almond milk. The nutty undertones complement the almond extract in the shortbread, while the milk's creaminess enhances the cookie's rich, buttery flavor.

Easy Variations on a Classic Cookie Bar

• Nutty Chocolate Chip Shortbread: Replace half the flour with ground almonds or pecans for a rich, nutty flavor that complements the chocolate chips.
• Coconut Chocolate Chip Bars: Fold in shredded coconut to the dough for a tropical twist that adds texture and subtle sweetness to the classic shortbread.
• Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Version: Drizzle homemade caramel sauce over the cooled bars and sprinkle sea salt on top for a decadent, sophisticated flavor profile.
• Espresso Chocolate Chip Shortbread: Mix in a tablespoon of instant espresso powder to the dough, creating a deep, robust coffee undertone that enhances the chocolate's richness.

Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookie Bars Recipe

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4.7 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 16 1x

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Description

Silky chocolate chip shortbread cookie bars bring together classic Scottish shortbread and American chocolate chip cookie magic. Buttery, crumbly layers melt with rich chocolate, creating a delightful treat that lingers on the palate and invites you to savor each delectable bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Primary Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups (6.75 oz / 192 grams) all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (1 stick / 113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
• ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg

Chocolate Ingredients:

• ½ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips, plus more for topping

Flavor and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
• ¼ teaspoon almond extract
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

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Instructions

1. Warm the oven to a cozy 350°F and prepare an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with a parchment paper sling for easy removal.
2. In a spacious mixing vessel, cream together softened butter and sugar until the mixture transforms into a light, airy consistency.
3. Gently introduce the egg, followed by vanilla and almond extracts, and a pinch of salt, blending until harmoniously combined.
4. Gradually fold in flour, stirring until the dough achieves a uniform texture, then delicately fold in chocolate chips for delightful bursts of sweetness.
5. Transfer the dough into the lined pan, using gentle pressure to create an even, smooth surface that fills the entire pan.
6. Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 28-30 minutes, watching for a golden-brown finish that signals perfect doneness.
7. Remove from the oven and allow the shortbread to cool completely within the pan, letting the residual heat set the texture.
8. Once cooled, lift the shortbread from the pan using the parchment paper edges and slice into elegant, rectangular bars ready to be devoured.

Notes

• Achieve golden edges by watching closely during the last 5 minutes of baking to prevent over-browning.
• Use room temperature butter for smoother, more evenly mixed dough that ensures a perfect shortbread texture.
• Opt for high-quality chocolate chips or chunks to elevate the rich, buttery flavor of these bars.
• Allow complete cooling before cutting to help bars set and maintain clean, crisp edges.
• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain maximum freshness and texture.
• Line pan with parchment paper for effortless removal and picture-perfect bar presentation.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 16
• Calories: 166
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 90 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 22 mg