Chocolate Chip Pan Cookies

Skip the scooping and multiple batches and make Chocolate Chip Pan Cookies instead! They are tender, chewy, easy and perfect for a crowd! Made with simple ingredients like eggs, flour, butter, sugar, and of course, chocolate chips, they’re baked in a pan and cut into squares. 

If you want the perfect potluck dessert, this is it! Skip the traditional prep of Chocolate Chip Cookies and bake the whole recipe in one batch of pan cookies!

Chocolate chip fans, listen up: This Chocolate Chip Pan Cookies recipe puts a twist on everyone’s favorite cookie! Adapted from a Toll House Pan Cookies recipe, this version has been tweaked to perfection and has all the nostalgic flavors of the original Toll House Cookie. 

If you’re looking for a shareable dessert that’s a little less expected than a regular batch of cookies, these moist, chewy, chocolate chip Pan Cookies will definitely do the trick! This is a great recipe to make for a crowd, whether you’re baking for a birthday party, holiday, dinner gathering, or just for the family!

What’s In Them: 

All-Purpose Flour – It’s important not to use flour made for other types of baked goods (like cake or bread flour) because this would throw off the texture and flavor. However, you can do a 1-for-1 substitute of gluten-free all-purpose flour to make this celiac-friendly. 

Cornstarch – This is one of my secrets for making tender and chewy cookies! 

Baking Soda – This leavening agent helps the cookies rise just enough without becoming too cakey. 

Unsalted Butter – I always recommend using unsalted butter because you can add whatever salt you need separately. However, if you only have salted butter, you can use it and just omit the salt in this recipe. 

Also, be sure to use room temperature butter instead of melted butter. Room temperature butter is soft enough to be malleable but solid enough to be whipped with the sugar. This adds an airiness to the final texture of the cookies.  

Kosher Salt – Yes, salt is a necessity because it amplifies the sweet flavors. (Why do you think salted caramel or salted chocolate taste so good?!)

Sugar (Brown and Regular) – Using both brown and granulated sugar creates a richer flavor and golden brown caramelization as the cookies bake. You’ll find this duo in almost every chocolate chip cookie recipe!

Vanilla Extract – A hint of smoothness to make these treats even more irresistible. 

Eggs – A necessary binding ingredient that keeps the cookies light and chewy.

Chocolate Chips – I like using a mix of milk and dark chocolate chips for a more well-rounded flavor. 

How To Make Them:

Step 1: Whisk together the cornstarch, flour, baking soda, and salt and set aside.

Step 2: Cream together the butter, sugars, and vanilla in a large bowl until pale and fluffy. Then add the eggs one at a time mixing between each addition.

Step 3: Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix just until combined.

Step 4: Fold in the chocolate chips and spread the dough out in a parchment paper lined jelly roll pan and bake.

FAQ and Baking Tips 

Why This Recipe Works!

Pan cookie recipes are similar to regular cookies, only instead of rolling the dough into balls before baking, it’s all spread into a pan like a sheet cake.

You might prefer this preparation over traditional cookies because you’ll get more treats out of each batch. That’s because the entire pan is covered in dough, as opposed to leaving space in between each individual cookie. 

Once baked and cooled, it’s cut into squares and voilà — sheet pan cookies!

What Is A Jelly Roll Pan? 

Because this recipe calls for a 12×17-inch jelly roll pan (<<< I like this one because it comes with a cover which makes it great for transporting!). But you may be wondering how it’s different from a cookie sheet. 

Jelly roll pans were designed to bake the thin sheet cakes used in jelly rolls, so the sides are slightly higher and they’re a bit larger than your average cookie sheet. The shape and size of jelly roll pans make them ideal for baking pan cookies. 

How To Cut Them:

For best results, allow the cookie squares to cool completely before cutting. Then the easiest and quickest way to cut these cookies is with a pizza cutter. This will give nice clean lines to your cookie squares!

Recipe Variations

Want to switch up the flavor? Try substituting one cup of chocolate chips for any of the following ingredients (feel free to get creative!):

• Caramel chips
• Butterscotch chips
• Peanut butter chips 
• White chocolate chips
• Toffee pieces
• M&M’s
• Shredded coconut
• Chopped nuts 

More Chocolate Chip Recipes:

• Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars — Similar to this recipe, these yummy treats also call for M&M’s!
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies — Because who doesn’t love chocolate and peanut butter?
• Edible Cookie Dough — If you love sampling cookies before they’re cooked, try making a batch of this egg-free cookie dough, instead. 
• Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies — A scrumptious chocolate chip pudding cookie loaded with ooey, gooey caramel! 
• Cowboy Cookies — Not only are these loaded with chocolate chip cookies, but they have pecans, caramel, coconut and more!

👋 Let’s Connect!

If you’ve tried this recipe please let me know how you liked it in the comments below and leave a review, I love hearing from you! And don’t forget to tag me – @sugarandsoulco – on Instagram and Pinterest with your photos!