🍯 soft in the middle, and slightly crisp around the edges. They’re incredibly easy to make and Gooey Chewy Butter Bars
These gooey, chewy butter bars are rich, buttery, soft in the middle, and slightly crisp around the edges. They’re incredibly easy to make and require simple pantry ingredients.
Ingredients
For the crust
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1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, melted
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½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
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¼ teaspoon salt
For the gooey filling
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½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted
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1½ cups (300 g) packed brown sugar
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2 large eggs
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
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½ teaspoon baking powder
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¼ teaspoon salt
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1 cup (170 g) chocolate chips, optional
Instructions
1. Prepare the pan
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line a 9 × 13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some paper hanging over the sides. This will make the bars much easier to remove.
Lightly grease the parchment.
2. Make the buttery crust
In a large bowl, combine the melted butter and granulated sugar.
Whisk until well combined.
Add the vanilla and salt.
Gradually mix in the flour until a soft dough forms.
Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
Don’t worry if it seems a little soft—the crust will firm up during baking.
3. Make the gooey filling
In another bowl, whisk together the melted butter and brown sugar.
Add the eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition.
Mix in the vanilla.
Add the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Stir just until everything is combined. Avoid overmixing.
If you’re using chocolate chips, fold them in now.
4. Assemble
Pour the gooey filling over the crust.
Spread it evenly with a spatula.
For an extra buttery flavor, you can sprinkle a small pinch of flaky sea salt over the top.
5. Bake
Place the pan in the oven and bake for approximately 30–35 minutes.
The edges should look bars continue to firm up as they cool, and slightly underbaking is what gives them that delicious set and lightly golden, while the center should still have a slight jiggle.
Don’t overbake them. The bars continue to firm up as they cool, and slightly underbaking is what gives them that delicious gooey center.
6. Cool completely
Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a cooling rack.
Let the bars cool for at least 1 hour before cutting.
For especially clean slices, refrigerate them for 30–60 minutes after they’ve cooled.
7. Cut and serve
Lift the bars out using the parchment paper.
Cut into squares or rectangles.
Dust with powdered sugar if desired.
⭐ Tips for Super-Gooey Bars
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Don’t overbake. The center should look slightly underdone when you take them out.
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Use real butter, rather than margarine, for the best flavor.
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Let them cool before cutting so the filling has time to set.
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For extra chewiness, use dark brown sugar instead of light brown sugar.
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Add ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts for crunch.
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Add white chocolate chips for an extra-sweet version.
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A little flaky sea salt on top balances the sweetness beautifully.
🍨 Serving Idea
Warm a bar for about 10–15 seconds in the microwave and serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The center becomes wonderfully soft and gooey again.
