Do you love the warm, comforting taste of snickerdoodles? Imagine that delicious cinnamon-sugar flavor in the form of a chewy, gooey cookie bar. Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars are the perfect blend of a soft cookie and a decadent dessert bar, making them incredibly easy to bake and impossible to resist. These bars have just the right balance of sweetness, spice, and chewiness—trust me, once you try them, you’ll want to make them over and over again!
Why You’ll Love Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars
Versatile Whether you’re baking for a party, a family gathering, or just for yourself (because, why not?), these cookie bars are perfect for any occasion.
Budget-Friendly Made with simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry, these bars won’t break the bank but will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth.
Quick and Easy No chilling time or complicated techniques required—just mix, bake, and enjoy!
Customizable You can sprinkle a little extra cinnamon-sugar on top or even add a few chocolate chips if you’re feeling adventurous.
Crowd-Pleasing These chewy, cinnamon-sugar-coated bars are a guaranteed hit with everyone—kids, adults, and everyone in between.
Ingredients
Ingredients in Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars
Here’s everything you need to make these delicious cookie bars:
All-Purpose Flour The base for the bars, ensuring a soft, chewy texture.
Baking Powder Helps the bars rise and gives them a perfect, light texture.
Cinnamon Ground cinnamon brings that signature snickerdoodle flavor.
Salt A pinch of salt to balance out the sweetness.
Butter Softened butter adds richness and helps create that chewy texture.
Sugar Granulated sugar sweetens the bars just right.
Eggs Eggs help bind the ingredients and contribute to the soft, chewy texture.
Vanilla Extract For that warm, aromatic flavor that brings everything together.
Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture A simple blend of cinnamon and sugar to coat the bars and give them that classic snickerdoodle taste.
Instructions
Ready to bake? Let’s dive into the steps to create these chewy cookie bars:
Preheat Your Oven Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with butter or non-stick spray. This will ensure your bars come out easily and don’t stick to the pan.
Mix Dry Ingredients In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set it aside while you work on the wet ingredients.
Cream Butter and Sugar In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This step helps create the soft, chewy texture we’re after.
Add Eggs and Vanilla Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring just until combined. Be careful not to overmix!
Prepare the Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture In a small bowl, combine cinnamon and sugar. This will be used to sprinkle on top of the cookie bars for that signature snickerdoodle flavor.
Spread the Dough Spread the dough evenly in the prepared baking pan, pressing it into all the corners.
Sprinkle Cinnamon-Sugar Generously sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the top of the dough, ensuring an even coating.
Bake and Cool Bake the bars for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let them cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Slice and Serve Once cooled, slice the bars into squares and enjoy! These chewy snickerdoodle cookie bars are perfect for sharing—or keeping to yourself (we won’t judge).
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Servings 16
Calories per serving 180
(Note These values are approximate.)
Preparation Time
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
How to Serve Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars
These cookie bars are delicious on their own, but here are some fun ways to enjoy them:
- Pair with a cup of hot cocoa or coffee for a cozy treat.
- Serve as an after-dinner dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Pack them in lunchboxes or bring them to a picnic for a sweet, portable treat.
- Enjoy with a glass of cold milk for that classic combo.
Additional Tips
Here are some extra tips to help you get the most out of this recipe:
- Storage Store the cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. They also freeze well for up to 3 months—just thaw and enjoy!
- Make them extra chewy If you want a chewier texture, you can add an extra tablespoon of butter or substitute half the granulated sugar for brown sugar.
- Spice it up If you love cinnamon, feel free to add an extra teaspoon of cinnamon to the dough or sprinkle a little more cinnamon on top for that extra kick.
- Don’t overbake Keep a close eye on the baking time! Overbaking will make them dry, and you want that soft, chewy texture.
FAQ’s
1 Can I make these bars gluten-free Yes, you can use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend to replace the all-purpose flour.
2 Can I make these bars dairy-free Yes, substitute the butter with a dairy-free alternative like margarine or coconut oil.
3 Can I freeze the dough for later Yes, you can freeze the dough for up to 3 months. Just scoop it into the pan and bake as usual when you’re ready to enjoy!
4 Can I add mix-ins to the dough Absolutely! Chocolate chips, nuts, or even raisins would be great additions to this recipe.
5 Can I use brown sugar instead of white sugar Yes, brown sugar will add a richer flavor and make the bars a bit softer.
6 How thick should the dough be in the pan You want to spread it evenly across the pan, so it should be about 1/2 inch thick before baking.
7 How can I make these bars more cinnamony For an extra cinnamon kick, increase the cinnamon in both the dough and the topping mixture.
8 Can I use a different size pan You can, but make sure to adjust the baking time. A smaller pan will result in thicker bars, while a larger pan may require less baking time.
9 Can I make this recipe in a muffin tin Yes, bake in a muffin tin for about 18-20 minutes, and you’ll have adorable snickerdoodle cookie muffins!
10 Can I top these bars with frosting Yes, you can add a simple glaze or cream cheese frosting on top for a richer treat.
Conclusion
These Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars are the perfect balance of chewy, cinnamon-sugar goodness that will satisfy your sweet tooth every time. Easy to make, perfect for sharing, and irresistible with that warm cinnamon flavor, they’re sure to be a favorite in your home. Bake a batch today, and enjoy the cozy, comforting goodness of these delightful cookie bars!
Print
Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 24 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert, Cookie Bars
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars are a delightful twist on the classic snickerdoodle. They feature a soft, dense, and chewy texture with a perfect balance of cinnamon-sugar goodness. Ideal for parties, lunchboxes, or a comforting afternoon treat!
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cinnamon Topping:
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat & Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream Butter & Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar until light and creamy. Mix in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Mix Batter: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined.
- Assemble Bars: Press the cookie dough evenly into the prepared pan.
- Add Topping: In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup sugar with 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Sprinkle evenly over the dough.
- Bake: Bake for 20–25 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
- Cool & Cut: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting into 24 squares.
Notes
- For extra chewiness, be careful not to overbake. The bars will firm up further as they cool.
- You can adjust the cinnamon-sugar topping to suit your taste—more cinnamon for a spicier kick or additional sugar for extra sweetness.
- These bars store well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: ~220 kcal
- Sugar: ~12 g
- Sodium: ~200 mg
- Fat: ~12 g
- Saturated Fat: ~7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~5 g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: ~30 g
- Fiber: ~1 g
- Protein: ~3 g
- Cholesterol: ~55 mg