Chocolate chip cookie bars for 24: one 9 × 13 in. pan of chewy cookie dough, baked, cooled and cut at home, then carried to the lot in the same pan. They take about 30 minutes of work, keep 3 days at room temperature and need no cooler, no plates and no grill.
Feeds: 24 (24 bars) · Hands-on: about 30 min · Total: about 3 hours, mostly cooling
Home gear: a 9 × 13 in. metal baking pan with a lid (or foil), parchment paper, a mixer, a large knife
Pack for the lot
- Cookie bars, in the covered pan (truck, not the cooler)
- A spatula or tongs for serving
- Napkins
Lot notes
- Why they travel: a single slab cut in the pan holds its shape. The bars brace each other, so nothing slides or breaks on the drive, and the pan is the serving tray.
- No ice needed: baked bars are shelf-stable, so they ride in the truck and leave the cooler for the food that needs it.
- Heat: the chips soften in direct sun. On a hot day, keep the pan in the cab or the shade, not a closed trunk.
- Stacking: if you'd rather bring a tub, layer the bars with parchment between so they don't stick.
- Allergens: wheat, eggs and dairy. There are no nuts in the recipe, but some chocolate chips are made on shared lines with nuts, so check the bag if that matters to your crew.
- Cleanup: take the pan home. Fold the parchment over the crumbs and toss it.
Can you make cookie bars ahead?
Yes. Bake and cut them up to 3 days ahead and keep them covered at room temperature. For longer, freeze the cut bars in a sealed container for up to 3 months and thaw them on the counter overnight.
Do cookie bars need a cooler at a tailgate?
No. They're shelf-stable. Keep the pan covered and out of direct sun so the chocolate stays put.
How many cookie bars for 20 people?
One pan of 24 gives everyone a bar with a few to spare. If they're the only dessert, or the crew has a sweet tooth, bake 2 pans for 48.
How do you cut cookie bars without them crumbling?
Let them cool completely in the pan, about 2 hours, then lift them out on the parchment and cut with a large knife, wiping it clean between cuts.