Graduation Cookie Bars White (Printable Version)

Chewy cookie bars with chocolate chips and a creamy white chocolate drizzle, ideal for celebrations.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 & 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 - Colored sprinkles for decoration, optional

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on sides 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 prepared baking pan, smoothing the surface.
07 - Bake for 23 to 25 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out mostly clean.
08 - Cool bars completely in pan on a wire rack before decorating.
09 - Place white chocolate and vegetable oil in microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 20-second increments, stirring after each interval until smooth.
10 - Drizzle melted white chocolate over cooled bars using spoon or piping bag. Add colored sprinkles if desired.
11 - Allow white chocolate drizzle to set completely before lifting bars from pan. Cut into 16 equal squares.

# Expert Insights:

01 -
  • They're chewy in the middle with crispy edges, hitting that texture jackpot that makes people reach for seconds.
  • You can swap the candy colors to match school spirit, turning a simple dessert into something that feels custom-made for the moment.
02 -
  • Don't skip cooling the bars completely before drizzling, or your white chocolate will slide off like you didn't care, and that's heartbreaking.
  • White chocolate seized up on me once because I got impatient with the melting, so those 20-second intervals really do matter more than they seem.
03 -
  • Use a bench scraper or cold knife to cut the bars cleanly, and dip the blade in hot water and wipe it dry between each cut for those Instagram-worthy edges.
  • If you're short on time, skip the candies and just use extra chocolate chips, then the drizzle becomes the star instead of fighting for attention.
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