Gluten-Free Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars

Name: Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 1, 8x8 Pan
Ingredients: 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature; 1/4 c. cream cheese, room temperature; 3/4 c. sugar; 1 tsp. vanilla; 1 Tbsp. brewed coffee; 1 large egg, room temperature; 1/4 tsp. salt; 1 c. gluten-free flour blend, spooned and leveled (I use Bob's RedMill 1:1); 1/4 c. cocoa powder; 1 tsp. cornstarch; 3/4 c. unsalted butter, room temperature; 1/4 tsp. salt; 2 3/4 c. powdered sugar; 1/4 c. cocoa powder; 1 tsp. vanilla; 2 Tbsp. milk

Desserts

Oct 17

Written By Kali Terry

If you’re looking for a dessert that’s indulgent, easy to make, and sure to impress, look no further than these Gluten-Free Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars. These bars are a dream come true for anyone who loves a perfectly balanced treat—soft, chewy, and with just the right amount of chocolate. Imagine starting with a rich, dense chocolate sugar cookie base, topped with a thick layer of velvety chocolate buttercream, and finishing it all off with delicate milk chocolate curls. It’s a chocolate lover’s dream wrapped up in a simple yet beautiful dessert that’s perfect for any occasion.

square of chocolate sugar cookie bar with chocolate icing and chocolate curls

Jump to Recipe

stack of chocolate cookie bars with chocolate frosting and milk chocolate curls

These chocolate sugar cookie bars bring together the best elements of a sugar cookie and a brownie, making them the ideal dessert for a birthday, holiday, or any celebration. Whether you’re planning a gathering or just need a delicious treat to share with friends and family, these bars will stand out on any dessert table. What’s even better? They’re incredibly easy to make, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the sweet rewards.

The Texture: A Perfect Harmony of Softness, Chewiness, and Creaminess

One of the things that truly sets these chocolate sugar cookie bars apart is the texture. When you take a bite, you get the perfect balance of chewiness, softness, and richness in every mouthful. The bottom layer, which is a chocolate sugar cookie base, is dense yet soft, similar to a brownie in texture. This cookie base is slightly firm around the edges but soft and chewy in the center, providing a satisfying bite. The thickness of the cookie layer is just right—not too thin to be flimsy but not so thick that it overwhelms the other components.

Then, there’s the luscious chocolate buttercream on top. This thick layer of frosting is smooth and creamy, adding a decadent richness to each bite. The buttercream almost melts in your mouth, perfectly complementing the chewy cookie base beneath it. And lastly, the milk chocolate curls provide a delicate crunch and a final burst of sweetness. These curls not only add texture but also give the bars a beautiful, bakery-worthy finish that elevates the dessert from simple to extraordinary.

The Flavor: Decadent, Rich, and Irresistible

The flavor of these chocolate sugar cookie bars is nothing short of heavenly. The combination of chocolate sugar cookie and chocolate buttercream creates a deeply indulgent experience that’s both rich and comforting. The chocolate sugar cookie base is soft and lightly sweet, with a deep, slightly bittersweet chocolate flavor that pairs beautifully with the sweetness of the buttercream.

The thick layer of chocolate buttercream adds a creamy, velvety finish that enhances the chocolate flavor without overwhelming it. It’s not overly sweet, allowing the flavor of the cookie base to shine through while still adding that perfect level of sweetness that makes these bars a true treat. The milk chocolate curls on top provide just the right amount of texture, adding a slight crunch and an extra burst of chocolatey goodness to each bite. Together, these elements create a flavor profile that’s perfectly balanced—rich, indulgent, and utterly irresistible.

Perfect for Birthdays, Holidays, and Every Celebration

These chocolate sugar cookie bars are ideal for a variety of occasions. Whether it’s a birthday party, a holiday gathering, or a simple family celebration, these bars are guaranteed to be a hit. They’re large enough to cut into perfect portions for sharing, and their beautiful presentation will impress your guests, making them the centerpiece of your dessert table.

The bars are incredibly versatile as well. You can dress them up with colorful sprinkles or themed decorations for birthdays and holidays, or you can keep them simple and elegant with just the chocolate curls. Their rich flavor and inviting texture make them perfect for any occasion, and their easy-to-make nature means you can whip them up at a moment’s notice.

Not only are they perfect for large gatherings, but they’re also great for smaller get-togethers or family desserts. They’re the kind of treat you can enjoy with a hot cup of coffee or a glass of milk, making them a comforting dessert for almost any day of the year.

Easy to Make: A Simple Recipe with Big Results

One of the best things about these chocolate sugar cookie bars is how incredibly easy they are to make. While they might look like something you’d only find at a high-end bakery, the recipe is simple and straightforward, making them accessible to even beginner bakers.

To make these bars, you’ll first prepare the chocolate sugar cookie dough. The ingredients are simple—cocoa powder, gluten-free flour, cornstarch, salt, sugar, butter, eggs, coffee, cream cheese, and a little vanilla extract. You’ll mix the wet and dry ingredients separately, then combine them to form a dough. Once the dough is ready, press it into a baking pan and bake it for about 20 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the edges are slightly golden and the center is set but still soft.

While the cookie base is cooling, you can make the chocolate buttercream. Once the cookie base has cooled, spread the buttercream over the top, smoothing it out evenly. The final touch is the milk chocolate curls, which you can either make yourself by shaving a block of milk chocolate or purchase pre-made curls from your local store. These curls add a beautiful finish to the bars, making them look professionally made even though you did it all yourself.

How to Serve These Delicious Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars

These chocolate sugar cookie bars are as beautiful as they are delicious, and they’re versatile enough to be served in a variety of ways. Here are a few ideas for serving them that will make them even more special:

Serve with Ice Cream: For a decadent treat, serve these bars warm with a scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream. The warm, chewy cookie combined with the cold, creamy ice cream creates a perfect contrast that’s impossible to resist.
Pair with Coffee or Tea: The richness of the chocolate and the creaminess of the buttercream pair wonderfully with a warm cup of coffee or tea. Whether you’re serving these as an after-dinner treat or an afternoon snack, the combination of flavors is a match made in heaven.
Top with Whipped Cream: Add a dollop of freshly whipped cream on top for an extra creamy, indulgent touch. This works especially well if you’re serving these bars for a more formal gathering or special event.
Garnish with Extra Chocolate: If you want to take these bars to the next level, drizzle extra melted chocolate over the top, or sprinkle more chocolate curls for a double dose of chocolatey goodness.

Key Ingredients & Why They Matter

Each ingredient in these chocolate sugar cookie bars plays a vital role in creating the perfect flavor and texture. Here’s a quick rundown:

Gluten-Free Flour Blend: Ensures the bars have structure while keeping them light and tender.
Cocoa Powder: Provides the deep, chocolate flavor that makes the cookie base so irresistible.
Butter: Adds richness and moisture to the cookie base and buttercream.
Cream Cheese: Adds a slight tang and tons of chew and moisture.
Coffee: Enhances the chocolate flavor without the actual taste of the coffee.
Sugar: Sweetens the dough and frosting without overpowering the chocolate flavor.
Milk Chocolate Curls: Not just for decoration—they add an extra burst of chocolate and texture to the bars.

A Sweet Ending to Any Celebration

These Gluten-Free Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars are the perfect treat for any celebration. Whether you’re baking them for a birthday, a holiday, or just to satisfy your chocolate cravings, they are guaranteed to be a hit. Their rich, fudgy texture, decadent chocolate buttercream, and elegant finishing touch of milk chocolate curls make them a dessert that’s not only delicious but also impressive. Best of all, they’re incredibly easy to make, so you can enjoy all the compliments without the stress of complicated baking.

Let the baking begin!

TIPS AND TRICKS:

- Always preheat your oven.

- All refrigerated ingredients should be room temperature unless stated otherwise.

- Do not overbake these sugar cookie bars, as chocolate desserts tend to dry out much easier if overbaked as opposed to other flavors.

So, next time you’re looking for a showstopper dessert that’s as simple as it is scrumptious, give these chocolate sugar cookie bars a try. With just the right amount of chocolate, sweetness, and texture, they’ll become your go-to dessert for every occasion. 🍫🍫🍫