Caramel Bar Cookies
Indulge in the ultimate fusion of buttery shortbread and gooey caramel with these decadent Caramel Bar Cookies. Featuring a soft, golden crust and a luscious layer of melted caramel candies, these bars are topped with a crumbly, cookie-like dough for the perfect balance of textures. A sprinkle of optional sea salt elevates the flavor, creating an irresistible salted caramel twist. With just 20 minutes of prep time and simple pantry ingredients like brown sugar, butter, and vanilla extract, this recipe is as easy as it is impressive. Perfect for dessert lovers, special occasions, or as a sweet snack, these caramel bar cookies are sure to become a household favorite.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups soft caramel candies, unwrapped
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 0.5 teaspoons sea salt (optional, for topping)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9x13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the sides for easy removal.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
Add the vanilla extract and mix until incorporated.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until a soft dough forms.
Press two-thirds of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form the crust. Reserve the remaining one-third for the topping.
Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly.
Meanwhile, in a microwave-safe bowl, heat the caramel candies and heavy cream in 30-second increments, stirring after each interval, until smooth and fully melted.
Pour the creamy caramel mixture evenly over the baked crust.
Crumble the reserved dough over the caramel layer to create a topping. If desired, sprinkle sea salt over the top for a salted caramel flavor.
Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for another 15-18 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown.
Remove from oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan to set the caramel.
Once cooled, lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang and cut them into squares or rectangles. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
560 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 23.0 g | 29% | |
| Saturated Fat | 13.6 g | 68% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 52 mg | 17% | |
| Sodium | 270 mg | 12% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 83.9 g | 31% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.7 g | 3% | |
| Total Sugars | 58.4 g | ||
| Protein | 3.4 g | 7% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 49 mg | 4% | |
| Iron | 1.1 mg | 6% | |
| Potassium | 77 mg | 2% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
