Caramel Chocolate Cookie Bars
Indulge in the ultimate dessert decadence with these Caramel Chocolate Cookie Bars, a heavenly treat that layers soft, chewy cookie dough with a luscious caramel filling and bursts of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Perfectly golden on top and irresistibly gooey in the center, these bars strike a delicious balance between sweet and salty with a buttery cookie base and a rich caramel sauce made from melted candies and cream. With just 20 minutes of prep time, this easy yet impressive recipe is ideal for potlucks, bake sales, or a cozy night in. Serve them warm for a melty chocolate experience or enjoy them cooled for a satisfying, chewy bite. These caramel-packed cookie bars will quickly become your go-to crowd-pleaser!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar
- 0.5 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
- 1.5 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 11 ounces caramel candies, unwrapped
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes with a hand or stand mixer.
Mix in the vanilla extract and egg, beating until well combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Fold 1 cup of the chocolate chips into the dough mixture, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
Take half of the cookie dough and press it evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Reserve the other half for later.
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the unwrapped caramel candies and heavy cream. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the caramel is smooth and melted.
Pour the melted caramel over the cookie dough layer in the pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
Drop small chunks of the remaining cookie dough on top of the caramel layer, covering it as much as possible without pressing down. It’s okay if some caramel is still visible.
Sprinkle the remaining 0.5 cup of chocolate chips over the top.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and set.
Remove the pan from the oven and allow the cookie bars to cool in the pan for at least 1 hour to let the caramel set.
Once completely cool, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan. Cut into 16 squares and serve.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
5339 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 224.8 g | 288% | |
| Saturated Fat | 132.2 g | 661% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 512 mg | 171% | |
| Sodium | 1838 mg | 80% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 842.4 g | 306% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 23.5 g | 84% | |
| Total Sugars | 535.2 g | ||
| Protein | 53.8 g | 108% | |
| Vitamin D | 1.3 mcg | 7% | |
| Calcium | 389 mg | 30% | |
| Iron | 18.9 mg | 105% | |
| Potassium | 948 mg | 20% | |
*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.
