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Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Recipe

Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Recipe
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★★★★★

4.9 from 9 reviews

Delight in these rich and chewy Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars, packed with buttery dough, semi-sweet chocolate chips, luscious chocolate chunks, and a gooey caramel layer. Perfectly baked to golden perfection, these bars combine classic cookie flavors with a decadent caramel twist for a truly irresistible treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream

Add-ins

  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup chocolate chunks
  • 11 oz soft caramels or caramel bits

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking dish to ensure easy removal of the bars after baking.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined. Set aside.
  3. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened unsalted butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then stir in the vanilla extract to enhance the flavor.
  5. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bars tender.
  6. Fold in Chocolate: Gently fold in both the semi-sweet chocolate chips and chocolate chunks to distribute them evenly throughout the dough.
  7. Press Base Layer: Reserve about one-third of the dough for topping. Press the remaining two-thirds firmly and evenly into the greased baking dish to create the base layer.
  8. Prepare Caramel Layer: Melt the soft caramels together with the heavy cream in the microwave in 20-30 second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth and pourable. Pour this caramel mixture evenly over the pressed dough layer.
  9. Add Top Layer: Drop spoonfuls of the reserved cookie dough over the caramel layer. Gently spread and lightly press the dough to cover the caramel as much as possible, but small gaps are fine to allow some caramel to peek through.
  10. Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and set. The edges should be firm while the center remains slightly soft.
  11. Cool and Slice: Remove from the oven and allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, slice into squares and serve.

Notes

  • For easier slicing, refrigerate the bars for about an hour before cutting.
  • You can substitute the semi-sweet chocolate chips and chunks with dark or milk chocolate based on preference.
  • If using store-bought caramel bits, ensure they are soft caramels for easier melting.
  • Storage: Keep bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.
  • To make the recipe nut-free, ensure all ingredients are free from cross-contamination.

Nutrition

Keywords: caramel chocolate chip cookie bars, caramel cookie bars, chocolate chip bars, easy cookie bars, chocolate caramel dessert

Find it online: https://servedbynora.com/caramel-chocolate-chip-cookie-bars-recipe/