by Kelly J. Larson

Bar cookies have become my latest craze. Recently a friend requested chocolate chip cookie bars with chocolate frosting for her daughter’s birthday. These chocolate chip cookie bars are perfect to me, simply cut up and eaten without the frosting, but we all have our own indulgences, right?

My idea of a chocolate chip cookie bar includes chopped pecans, but for a birthday party for kids, that isn’t ideal. Chocolate chip cookie bars slathered up with homemade chocolate frosting and bright sprinkles certainly are, as requested by Ketrin today for her sweetheart little Evelyn’s bounce house shindig.

I love packaging the cookie bars individually in a 4-inch by 6-inch cello bag, folded over and adhered with a piece of Scotch tape. This is also how I package my CHEWY TEXAS PECAN PRALINES from my online shop.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 eggs + 1 egg yolk
• 2-1/2 cups flour
• 1-1/4 cups chocolate chips
• 1 cup pecans, chopped (optional)

Chocolate Frosting

• 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
• 4 tablespoons cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup milk, plus additional 1-2 tablespoons of needed
• 1/4 cup sprinkles (optional)

My favorite part of making these, besides eating them, is spreading the frosting.

I often combine different colors and textures of sprinkles.

If you plan to package the bars individually, you’ll need to freeze them somewhat to prevent the frosting from spreading everywhere when you insert the bars into the bags.

Cut the bars, separate them onto a tray, then freeze momentarily. To fill each bag, use two mini serving spatulas — one to hold the bag open and one to slide the bar inside. Fold the end over, then tape it closed. You can freeze the bars for a few weeks.

How would you prefer these Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars — plain or with frosting and sprinkles? Either way, I have a feeling you’ll get hooked on this recipe after you try it.

This recipe is adapted from sugarspunrun’s chocolate chip cookie bars.