If you love chocolate chip cookies and gooey fudge, then these Decadent Fudge Filled Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are about to become your new favorite dessert. The buttery, golden cookie base is loaded with chocolate chips and studded with a rich, fudgy center, creating an irresistible treat you won’t want to share.
These chocolate chip cookie bars are the ultimate dessert, perfect for any occasion.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: Sweet and chocolatey, with a rich, buttery cookie base and a decadent, fudgy filling.
- Textures: Chewy, gooey, and slightly crisp, offering a delightful combination in every bite.
- Total Time: Approximately 60 minutes, including prep and baking.
- Difficulty: Easy. This recipe is straightforward, perfect for bakers of all levels.
What You’ll Need
To whip up these amazing chocolate chip cookie bars, you’ll need the ingredients for the cookie base and the luscious fudge filling. You’ll also need some basic kitchen equipment like mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons, and a baking pan. Get ready for a dessert that’s guaranteed to impress.
Ingredient Notes
- All-Purpose Flour – This provides the structure for your cookie bars. Be sure to measure it correctly using the scoop-and-level method, or weigh it for best results.
- Baking Soda – This is a leavening agent that helps the cookie bars rise and spread, giving them a perfect texture.
- Salt – Salt enhances the other flavors; don’t skip it!
- Unsalted Butter – Adds richness and flavor. Make sure it’s softened to room temperature for the best results.
- Granulated Sugar – This adds sweetness and helps with the cookie’s texture.
- Brown Sugar – This adds moisture and a slight caramel flavor to the cookie bars.
- Eggs – Eggs bind the ingredients and contribute to the rich texture of the cookie bars.
- Vanilla Extract – Enhances the flavors of the other ingredients, completing the ultimate cookie bar flavor profile.
- Chocolate Chips – Use your favorite chocolate chips! Semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips work great.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk – This is the base of the fudgy filling, providing sweetness and that perfect, creamy texture.
- Unsweetened Chocolate – This adds a depth of chocolate flavor and a fudgy texture to your filling.
- Butter – This adds richness and helps the filling set.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Nuts: Add 1/2 cup of chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to the cookie dough for added crunch and flavor.
- Different Chocolate Chips: Try using dark chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, or a mix of chocolate chips for variations.
- Extracts: Experiment with other extracts such as almond extract or coffee extract to enhance the flavors.
How to Make Decadent Fudge Filled Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan. This ensures the cookie bars don’t stick and are easy to remove.
- Cookie Dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Combine: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Make Fudge Filling: In a medium saucepan, combine the sweetened condensed milk, unsweetened chocolate, and butter. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the chocolate and butter are melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat.
- Assemble and Bake: Press 1/2 the cookie dough into the prepared pan. Pour the fudge filling evenly over the dough. Drop the remaining cookie dough by small spoonfuls over the fudge layer.
- Pro Tip: Don’t worry about covering the fudge completely; the cookie dough will spread during baking, creating a marbled effect.
- Bake: Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is set.
- Cool: Let the cookie bars cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares. This allows the fudge to set and the flavors to meld together.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t Overmix: When making the cookie dough, mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined to ensure the bars are tender.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Always make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature for optimal mixing and texture.
- Cool Completely: Allowing the cookie bars to cool completely before cutting is very important to make sure the fudge sets.
- Use a Sharp Knife: Use a sharp knife for clean cuts when slicing the bars.
- Line the Pan: Lining the baking pan with parchment paper, with overhang, makes it easier to remove the baked bars for cutting.
FAQs
- Can I use different types of chocolate chips?
Yes! Feel free to switch out the chocolate chips with your favorites. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or a combination will all work. - Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes, these cookie bars can be made a day in advance. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature. - How do I store the leftovers?
Store the cooled cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. - Can I freeze these cookie bars?
Yes, you can freeze the uncut cookie bars. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil or place them in a freezer-safe container. They will last for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Serving Suggestions
- With a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- A drizzle of chocolate sauce.
- A dusting of powdered sugar.
Make This Recipe in Advance
The cookie dough and the fudge filling can be made ahead. Prepare them and store them separately in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before assembling and baking. You can also freeze the assembled, unbaked cookie bars. Wrap them tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Bake, without thawing, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
Print
Decadent Fudge Filled Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Total Time: Approximately 60 minutes
- Yield: Varies
Description
Decadent Fudge Filled Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are the ultimate dessert, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Cookie Bars:
¾ Cup and 2 Tbsp. Butter, Partially Melted (200g)
¾ Cup Brown Sugar (140g)
½ Cup Sugar (100g)
2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 Large Eggs
2 and ⅔ Cups All Purpose Flour (320g)
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
⅛ teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Chocolate Chips (180g)
Chocolate Fudge:
1 Tin Condensed Milk (397g)
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 and ¼ Cups Chocolate Chips (405g)
Instructions
1. Melt chocolate chips and mix them into condensed milk and vanilla extract. Set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 180C (350F) and grease a 9″x13″ baking tin.
3. Beat butter, brown sugar, and sugar. Mix in eggs and vanilla extract.
4. Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Then, mix in chocolate chips.
5. Spread half of the cookie dough in the pan.
6. Pour the chocolate fudge over the dough.
7. Top with the remaining cookie dough.
8. Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden and set.
9. Refrigerate until set, then cut into squares or enjoy immediately.
Notes
Don’t Overmix: When making the cookie dough, mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined to ensure the bars are tender.
Room Temperature Ingredients: Always make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature for optimal mixing and texture.
Cool Completely: Allowing the cookie bars to cool completely before cutting is very important to make sure the fudge sets.
Use a Sharp Knife: Use a sharp knife for clean cuts when slicing the bars.
Line the Pan: Lining the baking pan with parchment paper, with overhang, makes it easier to remove the baked bars for cutting.
- Prep Time: Approximately 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
