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25 Chocolate Chip Recipes That Go Way Beyond Just Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are only just the beginning!

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chocolate chip cookie bars
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: DREW AICHELE

A bag of chocolate chips is the ultimate kitchen workhorse. Sure, we love eating them straight out of the bag, but the possibilities are endless when you're wanting a chocolate chip-studded dessert in your life that goes well beyond just chocolate chip cookies. With all these 25 chocolate chip-packed recipes for cakes, tarts, bars, and pies to choose from, we have a feeling your week is about to get a whole lot sweeter!

A batch of cookies is likely your first thought when dreaming up what to make with chocolate chips, but why stop there? We certainly can't seem to stop, which is why we've found more than a few ways to have the experience of chocolate chip cookies in as many forms as we can dream of. If that sounds like your idea of a good time, do yourself a favor and try out our recipes for chocolate chip cookie bars, edible cookie dough, and caramel chocolate chip cookie tart.

Pro tip: Don't just stop at merely folding in chocolate chips to all your favorite desserts. Melt them into ganache with heavy cream! Making ganache is basically foolproof and improves everything it touches, as is the case for the layers of it in our brownie lasagna, the whipped ganache frosting in our chocolate birthday cake, or the fudgy topping for our flourless peanut butter chocolate cake. Speaking of melty, gooey chocolate, a bag of chocolate chips also means you're halfway to a batch of fudge (namely our fantasy fudge), proving it's always a good idea to think outside the cookie jar when your sweet tooth strikes.

1

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

chocolate chip cookie bars
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: DREW AICHELE

If you're looking for an easy treat with a nostalgic taste, how about everyone’s all-time favorite cookie but in bar form? This is a classic chocolate chip cookie recipe that gets put into an 8"-x-8" square pan, baked until golden on the outside and still soft on the inside, and cut into squares. No rolling or scooping little balls, no multiple sheet pans, and you can store them right in the pan you baked them in.

Get the Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars recipe.

2

Edible Cookie Dough

edible cookie dough in a bowl with spoons
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

If stealing bites of cookie dough from mom’s mixing bowl was your mission on baking day, then this edible cookie dough will be your perfect easy dessert. Loaded with mini chocolate chips and all those classic buttery brown sugar vibes, this “naughty” nostalgic treat will transport you back to childhood with just one bite.

Get the Edible Cookie Dough recipe.

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3

Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Tart

caramel chocolate chip cookie tart

This tart is our formal request to have chocolate chip cookies in all forms. The crust is more like a shortbread version of the classic cookie to make it sturdy enough to perfectly hold its shape and the caramel and chocolate layers on top. It’s a sliceable, shareable cookie and a really wonderful option for your next gathering.

Get the Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Tart recipe.

4

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

chocolate chip cookies
RACHEL VANNI

We’ve made my fair share of variations on the chocolate chip cookie over the years, from chewy to brown butter, but this recipe takes the cake: They’re the most classic, least-fussy version—exactly what you want when you’re looking for a no-frills, soft and fudgy chocolate chip cookie.

Get the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.

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5

Cannoli Chips & Dip

cannoli chips dip

A Sicilian favorite across the globe, cannoli will always be a dreamy delicacy. In this version, the classic dessert is transformed from a creamy ricotta-filled crispy shell to a shareable party dip.

Get the Cannoli Chips & Dip recipe.

6

No-Bake Buckeye Cheesecake Bars

nobake buckeye cheesecake bars
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: RILEY WOFFORD

Buckeyes are a beloved truffle made of a rich peanut butter filling and dipped in chocolate. This no-bake cheesecake might be even easier. Instead of individually hand-dipping each buckeye, you get to cut squares of peanut cheesecake with a crunchy chocolate crust and a snappy chocolate top.

Get the No-Bake Buckeye Cheesecake Bars recipe.

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7

M&M Cookie Bars

mm cookie bars cut into squares
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

These M&M cookie bars are big bake sale vibes. They've got all the comfort of a chocolate chip cookie, with the added crunch of M&M's and the added heft of a bar shape, making for a delicious treat that’s impossible to put down.

Get the M&M Cookie Bars recipe.

8

Chocolate Chip Banana Oatmeal Bars

chocolate chip banana oatmeal bars
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

Sick of grabbing the same super-sweet, processed granola bars every morning? Studded with banana chunks and chocolate chips, these hearty oat bars will satisfy your breakfast cravings and sustain you through those long late morning meetings. Oh, and those necessary four o’clock snacks? They’re good for that too.

Get the Chocolate Chip Banana Oatmeal Bars recipe.

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9

Cookies ‘N’ Cream Millionaire Shortbread

cookies 'n' cream millionaire shortbread
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Just when we thought a millionaire shortbread couldn’t get richer, we switched up the classic recipe to feature layers of chocolate shortbread, chocolate caramel, and an added bonus of a cookie 'n' cream filling. The snap of chocolate with chewy caramel is still one of our favorite combinations, and bites or crushed-up Oreos just make these that much better.

Get the Cookies ‘N’ Cream Millionaire Shortbread recipe.

10

Brookies

brookies
Yossy Arefi

Ever have those moments when you can't decide if you're craving a warm chocolate chip cookie or a fudgy brownie? Us too! That's why you need the brookie—the half brownie–half cookie—in your life. It's perfect for all of those indecisive moments.

Get the Brookies recipe.

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11

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

a batch of golden brown banana muffins with chocolate chips on a white surface
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

These banana-chocolate chip muffins have all the indulgence of a dessert packed into a breakfast-approved package. Instead of the rich, buttery base of a classic banana bread, these muffins use plain whole-milk yogurt as the primary source of fat. The yogurt also lends a lightness to balance the naturally sweet bananas and the brown sugar. It’s basically a breakfast parfait in muffin form!

Get the Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins recipe.

12

Fantasy Fudge

slab of fantasy fudge filled with marshmallow fluff, oreos, and pecans
JOEL GOLDBERG

Fantasy Fudge, as its grown to be called, is a shortcut fudge that is just as good as the real thing. Our two favorite things about it are that 1) it's quick to make and 2) it's totally customizable!

Get the Fantasy Fudge recipe.

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13

Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

smores skillet cookie
Bryce Johnson

It's not that chocolate chip cookies are hard to make, it's just that this cookie skillet is extra easy. Pressing the dough into an ovenproof skillet instead of scooping dozens of balls takes way less time and feels much less tedious to prep. Plus, it's just more fun to eat.

Get the Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie recipe.

14

Brownie In A Mug

brownie in a mug
Erik Bernstein

Got an urgent brownie craving? This easy mug brownie is ultra-fudgy and ready in minutes. It's rich enough for two people, but it's okay not to share. 😏

Get the Brownie In A Mug recipe.

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15

Copycat Cheesecake Factory Oreo Cheesecake

copycat cheesecake factory oreo cheesecake
Joel Goldberg

When it comes to a Cheesecake Factory cheesecake we don't expect anything less than extreme decadence. With five indulgent layers of chocolate and Oreo, this Oreo dream cheesecake certainly delivers that and more.

Get the Copycat Cheesecake Factory Oreo Cheesecake recipe.

16

Air Fryer GF Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

air fryer gf peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies
PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: HADLEY SUI

Is there a better flavor combo than peanut butter and chocolate? Seriously, we'll wait. The duo is a classic for a reason: chocolate sweet and bitter notes are perfectly complemented by peanut butter's savory, just slightly sweet qualities.

Get the Air Fryer GF Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.

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17

Brownie Cookies

brownie cookies
LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

If you're a chocolate dessert fanatic—this is the cookie for you. We combined two of our favorite classic desserts—cookies and brownies, of course—to create this dessert dream, so you never have to choose between the two again! With two kinds of chocolate chips, brownie mix and cocoa powder, these fudgy, extra-chocolatey cookies are made for the die-hard chocolate fans.

Get the Brownie Cookies recipe.

18

Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Biscotti

pumpkin spice chocolate chip biscotti
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

These warmly spiced, dry cookies are made for dipping in hot chocolate or coffee. Since pumpkin adds extra moisture to the cookies, these won’t get quite as dry as a traditional biscotti, but are still plenty sturdy. Serve these with a pumpkin spice latte for a double-dose of fall.

Get the Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Biscotti recipe.

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19

Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake

flourless chocolate cake with a peanut butter glaze in a pattern on top
ANDREW BUI

We have to admit: our flourless chocolate cake is already fairly close to perfect. But, to satisfy that sweet-salty craving we sometimes can’t ignore, we gave our classic recipe an upgrade in the form of LOTS of peanut butter. Reese’s lovers—we think this will be the cake you’ve been dreaming of. It’s even richer than the original, and just as easy to create.

Get the Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake recipe.

20

Magic Cookie Bars

12 magic cookie bars
Joel goldberg

Though dump cakes might be the easiest dessert to make, Magic Cookie Bars come a close second. And we'd reckon that these are even more customizable and even more delicious. The condensed milk adds as the perfect chewy conduit to the coconut and whatever toppings you choose.

Get the Magic Cookie Bars recipe.

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