Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe (2024)

I love a good sugar cookie, but have you ever tried chocolate sugar cookies? They taste just as delicious as they sound. They are practically brownies, but better. You will love this chocolate dessert.

Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe (1)

My husband is a sucker for sugar cookies. I, however, would much rather have a nice brownie (like these Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars) over a sugar cookie on any given day.

I made a pan of our Sugar Cookie Bars (per my husband’s request) and started thinking about how good a chocolate sugar cookie would be – something thick, rich, and dense; something you could really sink your teeth into.

Top it with thick, fudgy icing and that is a sugar cookie I could get excited about.

So, I got to work. After a couple attempts, this was the end result. They are pretty much amazing. I love making this bar version of sugar cookies because it literally takes only a couple of minutes.

You just have to be sure to not overbake these, otherwise they might turn out a little dry.

Can I make Chocolate Sugar Cookie bars ahead of time and freeze them?

  • Yes, these most definitely can be made ahead of time, and frozen. They are actually even more delicious slightly frozen in my opinion. I love cold desserts or bars and cookies, and this recipe is so yummy frozen.
  • Once they are frosted, we don’t however, recommend reheating them to thaw them.
  • To freeze and to thaw, we recommend placing the bars in an air tight storage container, and placing them in the fridge or on the counter 12 hours (or the night before) serving. They will be chilled, and delicious. Again, do not heat them, or the frosting will melt off and they will lost their texture.

Cautious of the bake time:

For this recipe, you do not want to over bake the cookie bottom. Just like a normal vanilla sugar cookie, they can overcook quickly, and end up a little dry. Be sure to keep an eye on them, and don’t let them over bake.

You can always add a little baking time, but you can’t take it away after the damage has been done. I even like these a little undercooked, then I set them on the counter to set up a little more. So yummy.

Add your favorite topping to these Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars:

For these, I love to add sprinkles on top, however, you could easily add any favorite brownie or cookie toppings.

These would be delicious with:

  • Crushed Candy Bars
  • Crushed Oreo Cookies
  • Peppermint Candy Cane Shavings (if over the holidays)
  • Orange Sticks
  • Orange Zest
  • Sliced Strawberries

You can get creative and add any favorite brownie toppings, to really make it your own.

Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe (2)

This is a perfect example of how your butter texture should be. It should be softened, but not completely melted. Mine was slightly melted, but it hardly effected them.

To soften your butter, we recommend letting it sit out on your counter for about an hour. If you are rushed and don’t have time to fully thaw it, we recommend cutting it into small squares (as shown above) and microwaving it for 7 seconds.

Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe (3)

Whisk all the wet ingredients together, before adding the dry, to prevent lumps. This will keep the bars fluffy and delicious.

Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe (4)

Bake the bars, but again you will want to be cautious of the bake time. They can dry out quickly if you let them stay in longer than they should.

Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe (5)

I am a huge chocolate frosting lover. The secret to your frosting, is again, the butter. You want it softened, not melted or firm.

Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe (6)

Spread your frosting across the bars. If you are a big frosting lover, you can also double your frosting. I prefer my frosting thick.

Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe (7)

Add your sprinkles. I love the look of the rainbow sprinkles on these bars to add a pop of color, but again, you could top them with any candy, sprinkle, or drizzle you prefer.

Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe (8)

Cut them into squares and serve. I love these with a scoop of chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla ice cream.

Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe (9)

What could I replace the sour cream with in these Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars?

I know what you are thinking, sour cream in brownies? The answer is yes. It makes them so moist and delicious.

However, if you are looking for a healthier alternative, plain Greek yogurt will work great. I prefer the sour cream because it bakes a little better, the the plain Greek yogurt will also work. We don’t recommend regular yogurt, just Greek yogurt. It has a similar texture and flavor or sour cream, so it makes the best replacement.

How should I store leftovers?

If you have any of these bars leftover (if you eat the whole pan, I really don’t blame you) we recommend covering them with a lid, or placing them in an airtight container. They will be good on the shelf or counter for about two to three days before they begin to get dry.

You can freeze them, or place them in the refrigerator. I also love eating them cold. I highly recommend trying them cold.

Watch How To Make A Favorite chocolatey Dessert:

Did you know we have a Youtube Channel? We have hundreds of simple and delicious recipes, your family is going to love. We take you through each recipe, step by step, and show you exactly how to make them.

These Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars taste like the real deal. If you know, you know. Watch how simple and delicious they are to make, here:

Looking for more Chocolate desserts? here are a few of our favorite:

  • Copycat Wendy’s Chocolate Frosty
  • Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
  • Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Frozen Chocolate and Peanut Butter Banana Bites
  • Chocolate Cherry Chunk Brownies
  • Congo Bars
  • Chocolate Thin Mint Brownies

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Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe (10)

Serves: 24

Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe

3 from 2 votes

Looking for a dense and rich chocolate cookie? It doesn't get much better than these chocolate sugar cookie bars!

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 14 minutes mins

Total Time 29 minutes mins

PrintPin

Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter softened
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • ¼ cup sour cream (could also substitute plain Greek yogurt)
  • 2 cups flour
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Frosting:

  • ½ cup butter softened
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 3 Tablespoons cocoa
  • 2-3 cups powdered sugar
  • cup sprinkles (optional topping)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan (or spray with non-stick cooking spray).

  • In a large bowl, beat together the butter, brown sugar, and sugar. Add in the egg, vanilla, and sour cream and mix until completely incorporated.

  • Add in the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and mix well.

  • Stir together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Press the dough into the prepared pan (I had to use my hands to press the thick dough all the way to the edges of the pan) and bake for 13-14 minutes (be sure not to over bake or they will become dry).

  • While waiting for the bars to cool, make your frosting by mixing all ingredients together in a bowl until smooth (I used a hand mixer). Add more powdered sugar or milk until you reach desired consistency and spread on top of cooled bars.

  • If desired, top frosting with sprinkles.

Notes

If you have any of these bars leftover (if you eat the whole pan, I really don’t blame you) we recommend covering them with a lid, or placing them in an airtight container. They will be good on the shelf or counter for about two to three days before they begin to get dry.

I also love to freeze them, or place them in the refrigerator. I also love eating them cold. I highly recommend trying them cold.

Nutrition

Calories: 204 kcal · Carbohydrates: 30 g · Protein: 2 g · Fat: 9 g · Saturated Fat: 6 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 2 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 29 mg · Sodium: 156 mg · Potassium: 67 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 21 g · Vitamin A: 265 IU · Vitamin C: 1 mg · Calcium: 22 mg · Iron: 1 mg

Equipment

  • 9×13-inch Baking Pan

  • Large Bowl

  • Mixing Bowl

Recipe Details

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

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Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe (11)

Join The Discussion

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  1. AnnMarie says:

    These sound delicious! I always love trying anything new and familiar with chocolate in it. Pinned!

  2. Stephanie | Worth Whisking says:

    These cookies look wonderful! The fact that the frosting is about as thick as the cookie itself gives them two big thumbs up in my book! :)

  3. Jennifer says:

    Sooooo good! I needed to make something quick for a pot luck. I found these and made them in a hurry. They were still warm and the frosting kind of melted, but who cares! My family loved them! Definitely going into my permant cookie recipe box!

  4. Dacia says:

    I just made these and they are really good! I doubled the recipe and put it on a cookie sheet, 12x18, I think. I didn't double the frosting though because I'm not a huge frosting fan. It was just the right amount for me. I think next time when I double them, I might not add quite as much flour. They are really good, but I like them a little more dense. Great recipe! Thanks for sharing!!

  5. LaDawn says:

    My 14 yo. daughter just made these for our Sunday night treat. She only baked them 13 min. and they were just a bit dry. We'd probably shorten the baking time a bit more, but otherwise these were yummy!

  6. Nicole says:

    Just made these. Very pretty bars, look so delicious. And very yummy. I had to use light mayo in place of sour cream cause that's all I had. Turned out great. Thanks for the recipe!

  7. Karen says:

    The frosting makes these brownies. I didn't like the cookie base. The flavor wasn't very good. I baked them for 12 minutes and that was perfect. The frosting was delicious. I'll keep the frosting recipe but ditch the brownie base.

  8. Stephanie says:

    These were one of the desserts in our six sister menu plan this month and they were so delicious! We tend to think of them more as a brownie than a cookie because of their density but that doesn't change our love for them just what we call them! :) They have that appealing homemade taste to them, the kind where when you take a bite you instantly know that it was made with pantry ingredients and not from a box and something that reminds me of my childhood. These are perfect to bring to a pot luck or as part of a meal train meal. We just love them! I'm so glad I found your meal plans! Thank you!

  9. Annika says:

    I just made these tonight and baked them about two minutes less than called for and made sure to let them cool completely before frosting. They are AMAZING!!! Definitely a must have for chocoholics! My husband is equally obsessed. Thank you!

  10. Emily says:

    Can these be made ahead and frozen?

  11. Cyd says:

    These can be made ahead of time and frozen in an airtight or freezer container.

  12. Bobbi S says:

    I was looking for a cookie recipe to make so my husband could take them to work. I ran across this recipe and decided to give it a go. I am so glad I did. This is one amazing cookie bar. Now my husband has a snack for his coworkers in the morning. We give this recipe 5 stars.

  13. Momma Cyd says:

    Thanks Bobbi! We love hearing this. So glad you liked these sugar cookie bars.

  14. Kathryn says:

    I did not care for these bars . The frosting made the bars . I kinda thought the bars were tasteless .

  15. April says:

    The frosting was a keeper. The cookie bar part had a weird texture and not good flavor. Usually love all your recipes. Will use the frosting recipe on regular brownies though.

    Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe (12)

  16. Michael MacGuinness says:

    Everyone in my family loves these! Whenever we need a sweet, this is at the top of the list.

    Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe (13)

  17. Momma Cyd says:

    These are a family favorite. So glad to hear that your family loves them too!

Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe (14)

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Camille Beckstrand

Camille Beckstrand is married to Jared and they have 4 kids. She is a certified life coach that loves helping women become "unstuck" in their lives and is the host of the podcast "Moms On The Rise". She also loves a good true crime podcast, a big plate of cheesy loaded nachos, and going on adventures with her family.

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Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe (2024)

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