Brown Sugar Bars With Chocolate Chips
These Brown Sugar Bars with Chocolate Chips are soft and cake-like, loaded with melty chocolate chips and crunchy pecans. They’re easy to customize with your favorite mix-ins.
These Brown Sugar Bars with Chocolate Chips are a delightful twist on blondies, with a softer, more cake-like texture. They’re made with simple pantry ingredients, rich brown sugar, and plenty of chocolate chips and pecans for crunch. Perfect for bake sales, potlucks, or an afternoon treat, they’re endlessly customizable with coconut, dried fruit, or your favorite add-ins.
❤️ Why You’ll Love These Brown Sugar Bars
Soft and cake-like. Unlike dense blondies, these bars have a light, tender texture.
Rich, buttery flavor. Brown sugar and melted butter give every bite warmth and depth.
Loaded with mix-ins. Chocolate chips and pecans add sweetness and crunch, but you can make them your own.
Perfect for sharing. Bake a big batch for parties, holidays, or everyday snacking.
How to Make Them
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease and flour a 10x15x1-inch jelly roll or sheet cake pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs on high speed for 2 to 3 minutes until they’re light and foamy. Gradually mix in the vanilla, packed brown sugar, milk, and melted butter until the mixture is smooth.
- Reduce the mixer speed to low and blend in the dry ingredients just until incorporated. Fold in the chopped pecans and chocolate chips.
- Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 22 to 27 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool before cutting into bars.
Recipe Variations
- Add coconut. Stir in sweetened shredded coconut for an extra chewy texture and tropical flavor.
- Try dried fruit. Chopped dates, dried cherries, or cranberries make these bars even more special.
- Switch the nuts. Use walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts as alternatives to pecans.
- Make them extra chocolatey. Swap half the semisweet chips for white or milk chocolate.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve as an afternoon snack. Perfect with coffee, tea, or a glass of cold milk.
- Add to dessert platters. They pair well with cookies, brownies, and other bars.
- Turn them into an indulgent dessert. Warm a bar in the microwave and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Pack for gifts. Wrap in parchment and tie with twine for a sweet homemade treat.
How to Store Brown Sugar Bars
Refrigerate. Keep the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 1 week.
Freeze? Yes—wrap bars individually and freeze in a sealed container for up to 2 months.
To Heat. Warm a bar briefly in the microwave for 10–15 seconds to soften and refresh the texture.
Brown Sugar Bars With Chocolate Chips
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups flour, about 11 1/2 ounces
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 5 large eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup milk
- 8 ounces 1 cup salted butter, melted
- 3/4 to 1 cup chopped pecans
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven and Pan: • Preheat the oven to 350°F. • Grease and flour a 10x15x1-inch jelly roll pan or sheet cake pan.
- Make the Batter: • Combine the flour, salt, and baking powder in a bowl. Stir to blend, then set aside. • In a mixing bowl, using an electric mixer on high speed, beat the eggs for about 2 to 3 minutes, until they are light and foamy. Gradually beat in the vanilla, the brown sugar, milk, and melted butter.• With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture until well incorporated. • Fold the chopped pecans and chocolate chips into the batter.
- Bake: • Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. • Bake for 22 to 27 minutes, until nicely browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
