Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Recipe

Introduction

These Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars combine rich chocolate chips with a luscious salted caramel drizzle for a perfect balance of sweet and salty. Easy to make and perfect for sharing, they’re a delightful treat for any occasion.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup salted caramel sauce

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper for easier removal later.
2. Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
3. Step 3: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then mix in the vanilla extract until well combined.
4. Step 4: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
5. Step 5: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
6. Step 6: Gently fold in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
7. Step 7: Spread the cookie dough evenly in the prepared baking dish, smoothing the top with a spatula.
8. Step 8: Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
9. Step 9: While baking, melt the salted caramel sauce by microwaving caramel candies with 2 tablespoons of heavy cream in short bursts until smooth.
10. Step 10: Once the bars are out of the oven and slightly cooled, drizzle the warm caramel sauce evenly over the top.
11. Step 11: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares to serve.

Tips & Variations

• Use parchment paper to line your baking dish for easy removal and cleaner slices.
• For extra texture, sprinkle chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts into the dough before baking.
• Substitute salted caramel sauce with homemade caramel for a more personal touch.
• If you prefer deeper caramel flavor, swirl some caramel sauce into the dough before baking.

Storage

Store the cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to one week. Reheat briefly in the microwave to soften the bars and bring back the gooey texture before serving.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use dark chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet?

Yes, dark chocolate chips work well and add a richer, slightly more bitter contrast to the sweet caramel and cookie base.

How do I prevent the bars from overbaking?

Start checking the bars a few minutes before the suggested bake time. Remove them from the oven once the edges turn golden and a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs.

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 75 reviews

Delight in these Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars, a luscious treat combining rich, buttery cookie dough studded with semi-sweet chocolate chips and drizzled with homemade salted caramel sauce. Perfectly golden-baked and irresistibly gooey, these bars make an excellent dessert or snack for any occasion.

• Author: Sienna
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
• Total Time: 40-45 minutes
• Yield: About 24 bars 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dry Ingredients

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

Wet Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Add-ins

• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Salted Caramel Sauce

• 1 cup caramel candies
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream

Instructions

1. Prepare the Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper for easy removal later.
2. Mix the Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together 1 cup of softened unsalted butter, 1 cup of brown sugar, and 1/2 cup of granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
3. Add the Eggs and Vanilla: Add 2 large eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then mix in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract until fully combined.
4. Combine the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of salt.
5. Mix the Dry Ingredients with the Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined to avoid overmixing.
6. Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
7. Spread the Dough in the Baking Dish: Evenly spread the cookie dough into the prepared baking dish, smoothing the top with a spatula.
8. Bake the Cookie Bars: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
9. Prepare the Caramel Sauce: While baking, melt 1 cup of caramel candies with 2 tablespoons of heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl, heating in short bursts and stirring until smooth.
10. Drizzle the Caramel on the Bars: Once the bars are out of the oven and slightly cooled, evenly drizzle the warm salted caramel sauce over the top.
11. Allow to Cool and Slice: Let the cookie bars cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares to serve.

Notes

• Using parchment paper makes removal and cleanup much easier.
• Do not overmix the dough to keep the bars tender.
• For an extra caramel kick, sprinkle a light pinch of flaky sea salt over the caramel drizzle.
• Allow bars to cool fully to let caramel set and avoid messy slicing.
• Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.

Keywords: salted caramel, chocolate chip, cookie bars, dessert bars, easy baking, caramel sauce, chocolate desserts