27 Chewy Dessert Recipes That Hit Just Right

There’s something perfect about a chewy dessert – that satisfying bite that’s not too crispy, not too cake-like, but just right. These 27 recipes all nail that perfect chewy texture whether it’s cookies, bars, or brownies. Most of these are pretty simple to make and use ingredients you probably already have. The key to getting that perfect chewiness is usually underbaking slightly and using the right ratio of sugars and fats.

1. Classic Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

The secret to perfectly chewy chocolate chip cookies is using more brown sugar than white sugar and slightly underbaking them. They should look barely set when you take them out – they’ll continue cooking on the hot pan. Using melted butter instead of creamed butter also makes them chewier. These are the cookies everyone thinks about when they want something sweet and comforting. Let them cool on the pan for a few minutes before moving or they’ll fall apart. Get the recipe here.

2. Brown Butter Oatmeal Cookies

Browning the butter adds this amazing nutty flavor that takes regular oatmeal cookies to the next level. The oats give great chewy texture and the brown butter makes them taste sophisticated. Some recipes add cinnamon or vanilla but the brown butter is really the star. These stay chewy for days if you store them right in an airtight container. Way better than those cardboard-tasting store-bought oatmeal cookies. Get the recipe here.

3. Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies

These have that perfect soft-chewy texture with warming spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. The molasses gives them deep flavor and keeps them moist. Rolling them in sugar before baking creates a slightly crackly outside but chewy inside. These actually get better after a day or two when the spices have time to meld together. Perfect for winter but honestly taste good any time of year. Get the recipe here.

4. Soft Batch Snickerdoodles

The key to soft snickerdoodles is cream of tartar in the dough which gives them that distinctive tangy flavor and chewy texture. Rolling them in cinnamon sugar before baking creates that signature crackly top. These should be soft in the center when you take them out – they firm up as they cool. The cinnamon sugar coating gets all sparkly and makes your kitchen smell amazing while they bake. Get the recipe here.

5. Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

These use the classic three-ingredient base of peanut butter, sugar, and an egg but most recipes add flour for better texture. The trick is not overbaking them – they should still look slightly underdone in the center. Some people make the classic crisscross pattern with a fork but that’s just for looks. These are naturally gluten-free if you use the simple three-ingredient version. Perfect when you need something quick and satisfying. Get the recipe here.

6. Fudgy Brownies with Crackly Top

The perfect brownie is fudgy and chewy with that shiny, crackly top that cracks when you cut them. The secret is beating the sugar and eggs until they’re really light and fluffy, then being gentle when you fold in the flour. Using melted chocolate instead of just cocoa powder makes them extra fudgy. These are pure chocolate indulgence and way better than box mix. Don’t overbake or they’ll be cakey instead of fudgy. Get the recipe here.

7. Chewy Granola Bars

Homemade granola bars are so much better than store-bought ones. The key is using enough honey or maple syrup to bind everything together but not so much that they’re too sweet. These usually have oats, nuts, seeds, and sometimes dried fruit all held together with a sticky-sweet mixture. Press them firmly into the pan so they hold together when cut. These are great for breakfast, snacks, or lunchboxes. Get the recipe here.

8. Soft Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These look fancy with their crackled powdered sugar coating but they’re actually pretty simple to make. The dough gets rolled in powdered sugar before baking which creates the distinctive cracked appearance. They’re intensely chocolatey and have that perfect soft-chewy texture. Some recipes chill the dough first which helps them keep their shape. These look impressive on cookie platters but aren’t complicated to make. Get the recipe here.

9. Chewy Coconut Macaroons

These are different from French macarons – they’re made with shredded coconut, egg whites, and sugar. The good ones are chewy and moist inside with slightly golden edges. Some recipes dip the bottoms in chocolate which makes them extra special. These are naturally gluten-free which is nice for people with dietary restrictions. They keep well in an airtight container and actually taste better after a day when the flavors settle. Get the recipe here.

10. Salted Caramel Blondies

Blondies are like brownies but made with brown sugar instead of chocolate, giving them a butterscotch flavor. Adding salted caramel sauce creates pockets of gooey sweetness throughout. The salt on top balances the sweetness perfectly. These have that perfect dense, chewy texture that’s similar to brownies but with a different flavor profile. The caramel makes them extra indulgent and special. Get the recipe here.

11. Chewy Double Chocolate Cookies

These are for serious chocolate lovers – they have cocoa powder in the dough AND chocolate chips mixed in. They’re soft and chewy with intense chocolate flavor throughout. Some recipes add a little coffee which enhances the chocolate taste without making them taste like coffee. These satisfy the worst chocolate cravings and stay soft for days. Perfect with a glass of cold milk. Get the recipe here.

12. Soft Baked Sugar Cookies

Not the rolled-out decorated kind, but the soft, thick sugar cookies that are chewy in the middle. These usually get rolled in sugar before baking which creates a slightly crispy outside and soft inside. Some recipes add almond extract which gives them a more interesting flavor than just vanilla. These are simple but so good when you want something sweet but not too fancy. Perfect base for adding other flavors if you want. Get the recipe here.

13. Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

The oats give these great texture and the raisins add little bursts of sweetness. Some people hate raisin cookies but when they’re done right with the perfect chewy texture, they’re amazing. The key is not overbaking them and using enough brown sugar to keep them moist. Soaking the raisins in warm water for a few minutes before adding them keeps them plump. These are classic comfort food cookies. Get the recipe here.

14. Gooey Butter Bars

These originated in St. Louis and have a shortbread-like bottom layer and a gooey, chewy top layer. The top layer is made with cream cheese, butter, eggs, and powdered sugar which creates that signature gooey texture. They’re incredibly rich and sweet but so good. These are definitely an indulgent treat, not an everyday dessert. They need to be refrigerated because of the cream cheese but taste great cold or at room temperature. Get the recipe here.

15. Chewy Lemon Bars

Not the super tart kind with thick curd, but the chewy version with a tender crust and slightly thick lemon filling that’s more like a cookie than a custard. The filling should be set but still have some give to it. Fresh lemon juice and zest make a huge difference in the flavor. These are bright and refreshing but still have that satisfying chewy texture. Great for spring and summer when you want something lighter but still indulgent. Get the recipe here.

16. Soft Pretzel Cookies

These taste like soft pretzels but in cookie form. The dough usually has a bit of baking soda which gives that distinctive pretzel flavor. They get brushed with melted butter and sprinkled with coarse salt before baking. Some recipes shape them like actual pretzels but round cookies work fine too. These are unusual but really good – especially if you love soft pretzels. The salty-sweet combo is addictive. Get the recipe here.

17. Chewy Caramel Apple Bars

These have a oat cookie base, a layer of spiced apples, and caramel drizzled throughout. The apples get soft and jammy while baking and the caramel creates gooey pockets. Some recipes add a crumb topping which gives nice texture contrast. These taste like apple pie and caramel apple combined in bar form. Perfect for fall but honestly good any time you have apples around. These are my personal favorite because they taste like autumn in dessert form. Get the recipe here.

18. Fudgy Chocolate Chip Bars

These are like chocolate chip cookies but baked in a pan so they’re thicker and fudgier. The texture is somewhere between a brownie and a cookie. Using melted butter and pressing the dough into the pan creates that dense, chewy texture. These are easier than making individual cookies and cut into neat squares. Great for feeding a crowd or when you want that cookie flavor but in a different format. Get the recipe here.

19. Chewy Pumpkin Cookies

These are soft and cake-like but still have that satisfying chew. The pumpkin keeps them moist and adds flavor while pumpkin pie spices give that fall taste. Some recipes include a brown butter glaze which makes them extra special. These stay soft for days because of the moisture in the pumpkin. Perfect for using up leftover pumpkin puree and they’re less heavy than pumpkin bread or cake. Get the recipe here.

20. Soft Baked White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies

The white chocolate chips get melty and creamy while the macadamia nuts add great crunch and buttery flavor. These are less sweet than regular chocolate chip cookies and have a more sophisticated taste. Using good quality white chocolate makes a big difference – avoid the cheap chips that don’t melt well. These have that perfect soft-chewy texture that makes them feel indulgent but not too heavy. Get the recipe here.

21. Chewy Pecan Pie Bars

These have all the flavors of pecan pie but in a handheld bar form. The bottom is usually a shortbread crust and the top is the gooey pecan filling. The filling should be set but still have that characteristic pecan pie chewiness. These are rich and sweet like the pie but easier to serve and eat. Perfect for holidays or when you want pecan pie flavor without making a whole pie. These travel well too. Get the recipe here.

22. Gooey S’mores Bars

These layer graham cracker crust, chocolate, and marshmallows to recreate s’mores flavors in bar form. The marshmallows get golden and gooey on top while staying soft underneath. Some recipes add chocolate chips to the crust for extra chocolate flavor. These are fun and nostalgic and way easier than making actual s’mores. Perfect for parties or when you want that campfire treat indoors. Kids especially love these. Get the recipe here.

23. Chewy Maple Cookies

These have pure maple syrup in the dough which gives them amazing flavor and helps keep them chewy. Some recipes add maple extract too for stronger flavor. A maple glaze on top makes them extra special. These taste like breakfast but in dessert form. The maple flavor is warm and comforting, especially good in fall and winter. These are different enough from regular cookies to be interesting but familiar enough that everyone likes them. Get the recipe here.

24. Soft Baked Monster Cookies

These kitchen sink cookies have oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and M&Ms all in one cookie. They’re thick and chewy with lots of different textures and flavors in every bite. The combination sounds crazy but works really well together. These are fun cookies that kids especially love because of all the colorful candy. They’re substantial enough to be almost like a meal – definitely not a delicate cookie! Get the recipe here.

25. Chewy Toffee Bars

These usually have a shortbread base topped with caramel and toffee bits, then sometimes chocolate on top. The toffee adds great crunch while the caramel layer stays chewy. Some recipes use store-bought caramel candies melted down which makes them easier. The combination of textures makes these really satisfying. These are rich and indulgent but not too sweet. Perfect for when you want something special but don’t want to make something super complicated. Get the recipe here.

26. Fudgy Sea Salt Brownies

Adding flaky sea salt on top of brownies enhances the chocolate flavor and balances the sweetness. The contrast between the rich, fudgy brownie and the crunchy salt crystals is perfect. These should be dense and chewy, not cakey. Using good chocolate makes a big difference in the flavor. The salt should be sprinkled on right after they come out of the oven so it sticks. These feel sophisticated but aren’t hard to make. Get the recipe here.

27. Chewy Cinnamon Roll Cookies

These taste like cinnamon rolls but in cookie form. The dough gets rolled with cinnamon sugar, then sliced and baked like regular cookies. Some recipes include a glaze on top to make them more like actual cinnamon rolls. These have that perfect soft-chewy texture with swirls of cinnamon throughout. They’re easier than making actual cinnamon rolls but give you that same comforting flavor. Perfect for breakfast or dessert when you want something special but not too complicated. Get the recipe here.