Graduation Cookie Bars White (Printable)

Chewy bars studded with chocolate chips and topped with a white chocolate drizzle for festive occasions.

# Ingredient List:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
05 - 1 cup packed light brown sugar
06 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

→ Mix-ins and Toppings

09 - 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
10 - 1/2 cup colored candy-coated chocolates
11 - 4 ounces white chocolate, chopped or chips
12 - 1 teaspoon vegetable oil for melting white chocolate
13 - Optional: additional colored sprinkles for decoration

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
04 - Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet mixture until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
05 - Stir in chocolate chips and candy-coated chocolates until evenly distributed throughout dough.
06 - Spread dough evenly into the prepared baking pan.
07 - Bake for 23 to 25 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
08 - Cool bars completely in the pan on a wire rack before adding toppings.
09 - Melt white chocolate with vegetable oil in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second increments, stirring until smooth.
10 - Drizzle melted white chocolate over cooled bars using a spoon or piping bag. Add sprinkles if desired.
11 - Allow drizzle to set completely before lifting bars from pan and cutting into 16 equal squares.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • They're absurdly easy to make, which means you can actually enjoy the celebration instead of stressing in the kitchen.
  • The customizable colors mean these bars feel personal, like you made them specifically for that person's big moment.
02 -
  • Overmixing the dough after adding flour is the number one way these become cakey instead of chewy, so stop as soon as you don't see dry flour anymore.
  • White chocolate is temperamental and seizes up easily, which is why that vegetable oil is non-negotiable; it sounds like a small thing until you've rescued ruined chocolate three times.
03 -
  • Use melted butter that's slightly cooled so it doesn't cook the eggs when you whisk them together, but it should still be warm enough to dissolve the sugars smoothly.
  • Don't skip the wire rack for cooling; it allows air to circulate underneath and prevents the bottoms from getting soggy or overdrying.
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