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Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 3.9 from 25 reviews
  • Author: Kimberly
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 24 bars
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

Deliciously rich and gooey Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars featuring a buttery cookie base filled with melty semisweet chocolate chips and luscious caramel sauce. These decadent dessert bars are perfect for satisfying any sweet tooth and easy to make for gatherings or everyday indulgence.

Ingredients

Cookie Dough

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Caramel Layer

  • 1 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
  • 1 tablespoon milk (to thin the caramel, if needed)

Optional Topping

  • Flaky sea salt for sprinkling

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to allow for easy removal of the bars once baked.
  2. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the melted unsalted butter, packed light brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Stir until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Add the eggs one at a time along with the vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly after each addition until fully combined.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring carefully until just combined to avoid over-mixing.
  4. Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently fold the semisweet chocolate chips into the cookie dough using a spatula, ensuring even distribution throughout.
  5. Form Bottom Layer: Press about two-thirds of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan, forming a uniform layer.
  6. Prepare Caramel Layer: In a small bowl, stir together the caramel sauce and milk until smooth and pourable. Drizzle the caramel evenly over the pressed dough layer, spreading it gently with a spatula to cover the surface without mixing into the dough.
  7. Add Remaining Dough: Drop spoonfuls of the remaining cookie dough over the caramel layer. Gently spread and press to cover as much of the caramel as possible, creating a patchwork top layer.
  8. Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is just set (a toothpick inserted should come out with a few moist crumbs).
  9. Cool and Slice: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, use the parchment overhang to lift the bars out and slice into 24 pieces.
  10. Optional Topping: Sprinkle flaky sea salt over the top of the bars if desired to enhance the flavors and add a subtle crunch.

Notes

  • For thicker bars, use a smaller 9×9-inch pan and increase the baking time by 5 to 10 minutes.
  • You can substitute store-bought caramel sauce with homemade caramel for a richer, more customizable flavor.
  • Bars will firm up as they cool, so be patient before slicing to maintain clean edges.

Find it online: https://slsrecipes.com/chocolate-chip-caramel-bars-recipe-2/