Soft and Chewy Fresh Milled Cookie Bars
Just like our soft and chewy Fresh Milled Chocolate Chip Cookies, these Fresh Milled Cookie Bars are soft and chewy with an oh so gooey middle with slightly crisp edges. If you’re not in the mood to bake batches of cookies but still need to satisfy that cookie craving, these bars are it! Baked in less than a half hour, they are the perfect easy dessert that everyone will love. This recipe can easily be doubled as well to make a 9×13 baking pan.
Soft and Chewy Fresh Milled Cookie Bars
A cookie without all the work, these bars are easy to make and satisfy your cookie cravings! This recipe can easily be doubled in a 9x13 pan.
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Butter, softened
- 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1 tsp Real Vanilla Extract
- 1 Large Egg
- 285 Grams Fresh Milled Soft White Wheat Flour
- 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
- 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp Real Salt
- 1 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips or M&M's, I did 1/2 cup of each
Instructions
- Begin by milling 285 grams of Soft White Wheat. (TIP: I always weigh out my grains before milling) It is important to mill your grains first so that the flour has time to cool before mixing it in with the remaining ingredients. It's a good idea to mill your grains and then let them chill in the freezer for at least 15 minutes while you mix together the rest of the ingredients. (see notes)
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper. If you are doubling this recipe, use a 9x13 baking pan.
- In a mixing bowl, cream together 1/2 cup softened butter (note: make sure your butter is not melted. We only want it to be softened), 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Once creamed together, whip in 1 large egg.
- After flour has chilled, stir into flour 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Then, stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients until flour is incorporated.
- Mix in 1 cup of Mini Chocolate Chips or M&M's. I did 1/2 cup of mini Chocolate Chips and 1/2 Cup of Unreal Chocolate Gems.
- After all ingredients are combined, press cookie dough evenly into an 8x8 baking pan. I like to press a few more unreal gems on mini chocolate chips into the top as well.
- Bake Fresh Milled Cookie Bars for 25-27 minutes checking at the 25 minute mark. Cookie bars should be puffy and slightly golden around the edges. Let cool for 15 minutes before slicing and serving warm or let cool completely before slicing and serving.
- Cookie bars store best in an airtight container on the counter and consumed within 5 days. Or cookie bars can be stored in a freezer safe container in the freezer and then defrosted for future enjoyment.
Notes
Why do you measure your fresh milled flour in grams? I have found that when I share fresh milled recipes I can give you a much more consistent product if you measure the flour in grams. I know it seems inconvenient but it only takes a moment and then you get delicious results! I weigh out my grains before I mill them.
Why do you chill your fresh milled flour? Fresh milled flour comes out of the mill very warm. When baking cookies or cookie bars it is crucial that the butter stays softened and not melted. By chilling the fresh milled flour you ensure that the cookie bars bake with the right soft and chewy texture and form properly.
Can these Fresh Milled Cookie Bars be doubled? Yes, if doubling this recipe use a 9x13 baking pan.
Our FAVORITE Easy Fresh Milled Cookie Bars!
We are a cookie family around here, and these Cookie Bars with fresh milled flour are no exception. It’s everything you love about a fresh milled cookie without the work of scooping them out. These cookie bars come in handy especially during the summer months when you need to whip up a quick dessert and get back outside to enjoy the nice weather!
Key features in our soft & chewy Fresh Milled Cookie Bars:
- Versatile! Add in whatever your family enjoys like mini chocolate chips, M&M’s (or dye free Unreal Gems!), nuts, or all of the above are excellent additions to these bars.
- A great dessert for parties or gatherings- these Fresh Milled Cookie Bars are a crowd pleaser. The recipe can easily be doubled too to make a 9×13 pan.
- Made with fresh milled soft white wheat flour…but you would hardly notice! We try to create fresh milled dessert recipes that even the pickiest eaters will enjoy.
- Ooey, gooey, chewy and perfect! An easy dessert to satisfy your sweet cravings!
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Don’t forget the WHY behind fresh milled baking!
We always think it’s important to remind our readers to get back to the why of fresh milled flour recipes.
Maybe your why is because you desire to make wholesome, from scratch food for you family in your own kitchen. Or after being gluten free for years you realized you could enjoy grains in their whole form. Maybe you learned of the amazing health benefits of fresh milled grains. Or maybe it’s all of the above!
It’s easy to get lost in the noise of the internet. But as women, wives, and mothers let’s get back to kitchens and homes that provide not just wholesome food for our families, but also delicious food that satisfies our deepest needs for nourishment. Our kitchens can be reminders of our deeper spiritual needs- Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:35
Ingredients to make the BEST Cookie Bars with Fresh Milled Flour:
- Fresh Milled Soft White Wheat
- Granulated Sugar & Brown Sugar
- Butter
- 1 Egg
- Real Vanilla Extract
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Mini Chocolate Chips, M&M’s (or Unreal Gems!), or nuts– I used half mini chocolate chips, half Unreal Gems.
Step-by-Step instructions to make Fresh Milled Cookie Bars-
Begin by milling 285 grams of Soft White Wheat. I like to mill my flour first so that it has a chance to cool before I mix it in to the remaining ingredients. It’s best to let it cool for at least 15 minutes while you mix the remaining ingredients together. Next, preheat oven to 350 degrees and line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper. If doubling this recipe, use a 9×13 baking pan.
In a medium sized mixing bowl, cream together 1/2 cup of softened butter, 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, and 1 tsp of real vanilla extract. Once creamed together, whip in one egg.
Once flour has cooled, whisk 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt into the flour. Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just combined. Then, stir in additional add-ins like mini chocolate chips, Unreal Gems, and/or nuts.
Press cookie dough into an 8×8 baking pan lined with parchment paper. I like to press a few more chocolate chips or Unreal Gems into the top before I bake. Then, bake Fresh Milled Cookie Bars at 350 degrees for 25-27 minutes or until top is slightly golden and cookie bars are puffy.
Allow cookie bars to cool slightly before slicing if serving cookie bars warm. Allow to cool completely and slice if serving at room temperature.
