Nutella Swirl Cookie Bars
These easy cookie bars are fun and flavorful. Rich with caramel flavor and swirled with the deliciously classic hazelnut and chocolate flavor of Nutella spread that melts in your mouth with every bite, these cookie bars are soft and chewy with crispy golden brown edges. Simply perfect!
*This post may contain affiliate links.
Why you’ll love Nutella swirl cookie bars
These easy cookie bars are fun and flavorful. Rich with caramel flavor and swirled with the deliciously classic hazelnut and chocolate flavor of Nutella spread that melts in your mouth with every bite, these cookie bars are soft and chewy with crispy golden brown edges. Simply perfect!
I’ve always loved this flavor combination in a cookie, and now it’s even easier to make as a bar- you can mix all the ingredients in just one bowl and bake them up in one 8 x 8 inch baking dish! So easy to make and even easier to clean up!
Recipe Tips for the best Nutella swirl cookie bars
When you are creating the swirl of Nutella on top of the bars right before they go in the oven, keep the Nutella on the clumpier side and try to avoid mixing it into the batter too much. Just a light swirl with the knife will do the trick, you want to see lots of dough peeking through still!
Do not over bake them. The key to a soft and chewy cookie is to pull them out of the oven as soon as they puff up in the center and turn light golden brown around the edges. The same is true for cookie bars. This is not a secret, but it makes a HUGE difference in the texture of your cookie, and I think it also makes them last a little longer too!
Recipe Variations
If you aren’t a fan of hazelnuts or Nutella, you can try this recipe with your favorite chocolate nut butter such as almond cocoa spread, or with a plain nut butter like peanut butter. It will taste just as good!
FAQ
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Spatula
Stand mixer or hand mixer
parchment paper
8 x 8 inch baking dish
Ingredients
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup nutella for marbling
How to make Nutella swirl cookie bars
Prep
Melt the butter and allow it to cool slightly.
Preheat oven to 350℉. Line an 8 x 8 baking dish with parchment paper.
Mix the Dough
In a large bowl mix granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together.
Add the butter and mix well, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
Add egg and vanilla and mix until well combined.
Add the flour and mix until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
Bake
Pour just half of the dough into the parchment lined pan and spread it evenly to each corner. Add half of the Nutella (about 1/4 cup) in dollops on top and swirl it into the dough dough with a knife. Add the remaining half of the dough in dollops and spread out each dollop flat, leaving cracks where some of the Nutella that you’ve already added is exposed. In those cracks, drop additional Nutella and lightly swirl it into the cracks with a knife.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges become golden brown and the middle puffs up slightly.
Let cool and set in the pan for about 1 hour or until the bars are completely cooled.
How to Store
Store Nutella swirl cookie bars at room temperature at room temperature in an air tight container for up to five days, or store in the refrigerator for up to five days. If stored in the refrigerator, let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes, or pop in the microwave for five to ten seconds to warm to room temperature.
You can also freeze Nutella swirl cookie bars easily. Just place (fully baked and cooled) in an air tight freezer container and store in the freezer for up to three months. Remove from the freezer and place in the refrigerator 24 hours prior to serving.
More cookie bars, please!
Try these: