These Cookie Bars are easy to make and perfect for parties. My Nutella Butter Cookie Bars are filled with creamy Nutella to make the ultimate cookie bar!
If you love cookie bars like we do, try our Salted Nutella Shortbread Bars too!
Nutella Cookie Bars
This is the ultimate buttery fantastic cookie bar recipe. Talk about all of my favorite flavors into one fabulous bar. Buttery cookie crust stuffed with Nutella center….oh my goodness. Heaven!! Hope you enjoy!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Nutella Perfection! If you are a Nutella fan, these cookie bars are for you! They are a huge hit every time they’re made.
- Great For Parties. We love making these cookie bars to bring to parties. They are easy to transport and look great on any dessert table.
For daily recipe inspiration follow Picky Palate on Instagram too.
What You’ll Need
Let’s look at the ingredients you’ll need to make these cookie bars. See bottom of post’s recipe card with complete instructions.
- Butter, Salted or Unsalted– For most of my cooking and baking I use salted butter, unsalted works fine too.
- Large Eggs– To stay consistent, I use large eggs for all of my recipes.
- Vanilla– For best tasting results use pure vanilla extract in your recipes.
- All-Purpose Flour– The flour is the main dry ingredient in the cookie bars.
- Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix– Find instant pudding mix in the baking isle near the cake mixes. Double check the box to make sure it says instant and not cook and serve.
- Baking Soda– Baking soda helps the cookies rise slightly during baking.
- Kosher Salt– Kosher salt is a coarse salt commonly used in recipes. I prefer it over table salt.
- Cream of Tartar– Find cream of tartar in the spices section of the grocery store. It’s commonly used in sugar type cookies along with snickerdoodles.
- Nutella– Find this hazelnut spread in the peanut butter isle.
What Is Nutella?
Nutella is a hazelnut an chocolate spread that is popular to use for desserts and breakfasts. This tasty concoction is often spread on toast or dolloped on pancakes and waffles. It’s also common to find Nutella as a filling for sweet crepes.
How to Make The Best Cookie Bars
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and line an 8 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- Place softened butter and sugar into a large bowl, mix until well combined. Stir in egg and vanilla, mixing to combine. Add flour, pudding mix, baking soda, salt and cream of tartar. Mix until dough forms.
- Press half of dough into bottom of baking sheet. Spread Nutella over dough and spoon the rest of dough over Nutella. Press dough carefully covering most of Nutella, but doesn’t have to be perfectly covered. Bake for 35 minutes, until baked through. Remove and let cool completely. Cut into squares and serve room temperature.
Tips For Making The Best Cookie Bars
- Don’t alter the recipe, use all ingredients as listed.
- Always use butter, not margarine. I prefer salted butter for my chocolate chip cookies. Try it!
- Don’t skip creaming your butter and sugars for a good 1-2 minutes. Helps create a fluffy, chewy cookie bar.
- Try sprinkling dough with just a touch of salt for a perfect sweet and salty combination.
- Don’t overtake your cookie bars. Bars will continue to cook on hot cookie sheet when removed from oven.
- Let cookies cool completely before cutting into squares and storing in containers. This will keep their crispness.
How To Serve Nutella Cookie Bars
Serve cookie bars at any occasion where dessert is needed. Room temperature or slightly warmed is best. You can warm up individual bars on a heat proof plate in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. Try topping vanilla ice cream on top for an extra treat. These cookie bars are always welcome at parties, Holidays and even bake sales.
How To Store Leftovers
Store any leftover bars in an airtight container, room temperature for up to 3 days. Warm up individual bars on a heat proof plate in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.
Try More Cookie Bar Recipes
Nutella Butter Cookie Bars
Equipment
- Oven
- Bowl
- 8 x 8 inch baking dish
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- mixing spoons
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 3/4 cup Nutella
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and line an 8×8 inch baking dish with parchment paper
- Place softened butter and sugar into a large bowl, mix until well combined. Stir in egg and vanilla, mixing to combine. Add flour, pudding mix, baking soda, salt and cream of tartar. Mix until dough forms.
- Press half of dough into bottom of baking sheet. Spread Nutella over dough and spoon the rest of dough over Nutella. Press dough carefully covering most of Nutella, but doesn’t have to be perfectly covered. Bake for 35 minutes, until baked through. Remove and let cool completely. Cut into squares and serve room temperature.
Nutrition
Pin Nutella Butter Cookie Bars!
What can i substitute the vainilla pudding mix with??
We do not have cream of tartar where I live.. Can we substitute it with anything?
You can leave it out if you’d like.
Cream of Tartar is available at amazon. You can also use it to make Snickerdoodle cookies. Yumm.
Is the cream of tartar essential, or can I leave it out?
Yes, you can leave it out if you’d like.
I didn’t have vanilla pudding mix so I used Coconut Creme, it was very good!
Yum! These are some of my favorite flavors too!
Anything with nutella gets my attention, but a recipe this simple?? I love it even more!
These look great, but I also have to ask: what flavor pudding? I would guess vanilla?
Yes, my apologies that was missing. Vanilla.
Be still my heart! EVERYTHING is better with nutella! Cannot wait to whip these up and enjoy with friends – pinned!
These look INCREDIBLE! What’s not to love about a quick and easy Nutella recipe? YUM!
Jenny, I wholeheartedly approve of this recipe! 🙂 I love that it’s so easy to pull together, but it’s undoubtedly delicious with the combination of Nutella and buttery cookie. Yum!
I think I just got a cavity looking at these amazing bars!
I could easily polish off a plateful of these bars!
Perfect for my sweet tooth!!
These look so good!!!
Wow, these look so good! So simple, too 🙂
These bars look like the ultimate treat!!
That Nutella center- yes!!!
I just love your endless cookie recipes- they make me so happy! (and hungry!)
I need to come and bake with you for a day! You have the best desserts!! Bring on the nutella!
Yum! These look delish, and easy too! Thanks!
What flavor pudding mix?
Nutella! Yummy! these bars look amazing!