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These congo bars are soft and chewy chocolate chip cookie bars with a gooey texture! This crowd-pleasing classic dessert is easy to make using only one bowl and one pan.

Our family can’t get enough cookie bar recipes! We also love blondies, cake mix cookie bars and M&M cookie bars.

Chocolate chip cookie bars on a white plate.
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I absolutely adore chocolate chip cookies and love to make fun (and delicious!) variations of them. These bars are one of my favorites, as well as chocolate chip cookie pie, pizookie (cookie pizza) and chocolate chip cookie dough truffles.

These congo bars AKA chocolate chip cookie bars were a Sunday staple at my husband’s house and the recipe was passed down to me from his grandma! They have crisp edges, a chewy middle and we love to serve them with homemade vanilla ice cream and hot fudge sauce.

Cookie bars on a baking sheet.

Ingredients

To make this recipe, you’ll only need a few simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand. They come together so easily and can be mixed together in just one bowl (amounts included in printable recipe below).

  • Brown sugar
  • Salted butter
  • Eggs
  • Flour
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Vanilla
  • Semi-sweet chocolate chips

How to Make Congo Bars

Find the printable recipe below.

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 12×14 pan and dust lightly with flour.
  • In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Then add eggs and vanilla and stir until combined.
  • Mix baking powder and salt with 1 cup flour. Pour into the butter mixture and stir in rest of flour. Then fold in chocolate chips.
  • Press dough into pan with flour on your hands. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until lightly browned and toothpick comes out clean.
  • Allow to cool, then top with ice cream, hot fudge or whipped cream and caramel sauce, too!
Congo bars stacked on top of each other.

How Many Bars Does a 9×13 Pan Hold

I typically make these congo bars in a 12×14″ pan, however a 9×13″ pan will work too. If making in a 12×14″ pan, I usually slice them into 20 squares. When making in a 9×13″ pan, I’ll slice them into 16 squares.

Please note that cooking time may vary if making the cookie bars in a 9×13″ pan. The bars will have more depth, so may take a little longer to cook. Just be sure to keep an eye on them and test with a toothpick. The toothpick should come out clean when stuck in the middle of the pan.

Storing and Freezing

Store: Store in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

Freeze: They are great to store in the freezer. Just make sure they have cooled completely before freezing. To freeze, simply wrap in foil and then place in an airtight container or freezer bag. The cookie bars will keep in the freezer for a couple of months.

Congo bars in a bowl.

Love cookie bar recipes? Make this brookies recipe, Oreo cookie bars or sugar cookie bars, next!

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congo bars recipe

Congo Bars

4.96 from 24 votes
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Author: Jamielyn Nye
These congo bars are soft and chewy chocolate chip cookie bars with a gooey texture! This crowd-pleasing classic dessert is easy to make using only one bowl and one pan.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 20

Video

Ingredients 

  • cup salted butter , softened
  • 2 cups light brown sugar , packed
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour , spooned and leveled
  • 1 1/2-2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Optional: ice cream and hot fudge

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a 12×14 pan (9×13 will work too, they'll just be a little thicker) with parchment paper or foil. Cream butter and sugar together in a large bowl until creamy. Then add in eggs and vanilla and mix just until combined.
    • Next mix the baking powder and salt with 1 cup of flour. Pour into the butter mixture and stir in then add the rest of the flour. Mix just until combined. Then fold in chocolate chips.
    • Press dough into pan with flour on your hands. Bake for 25-35 minutes or until lightly browned and toothpick comes out clean. The cookie bars should be soft in the center.
    • Allow bars to cool slightly and then slice into bars.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1bar | Calories: 283kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 129mg | Potassium: 190mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 230IU | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 1.9mg

    Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American

    Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

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