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Gooey Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars You’ll Love Recipe

Gooey Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars You'll Love Recipe
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★★★★★

4.8 from 10 reviews

Delight in these Gooey Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars that blend a buttery cookie base with a luscious caramel filling and melty chocolate chips. Perfectly balanced with a sprinkle of sea salt, these bars are a decadent dessert treat for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cookie Base

  • 1 cup Salted Butter (can substitute with unsalted butter for less salt)
  • 1 cup Light Brown Sugar, packed
  • ½ cup Granulated White Sugar
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract (opt for pure vanilla for more intensity)
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt (reduce to ¾ teaspoon if using table salt)
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 2½ cups All-Purpose Flour (swap with gluten-free flour blend if needed)

For the Filling

  • 1 14-ounce can Sweetened Condensed Milk (no direct substitute available)
  • 10 ounces Soft Caramels, unwrapped (homemade caramel works as a substitute)

For the Topping

  • 2 cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (feel free to swap with dark or milk chocolate)
  • 1 teaspoon Flaked Sea Salt (regular salt can be used, but avoid coarse salt)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil and grease it thoroughly to prevent sticking.
  2. Make the Cookie Dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream together 1 cup of salted butter, 1 cup light brown sugar, and ½ cup granulated sugar using an electric mixer at medium speed for about 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
  3. Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt on low speed until fully combined and smooth.
  4. Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add 1 teaspoon baking soda and 2½ cups all-purpose flour to the butter mixture. Mix gently until just combined to avoid overworking the dough.
  5. Fold in Chocolate Chips: Using a spatula, carefully fold in 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
  6. Press Dough into Pan: Press about three-quarters of the cookie dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the base layer.
  7. Prepare Caramel Filling: In a saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk with 10 ounces of unwrapped soft caramels. Stir continuously for 5-7 minutes until the mixture is melted and smooth.
  8. Layer Caramel: Pour approximately three-quarters of the caramel mixture over the pressed cookie dough, spreading it evenly.
  9. Add Remaining Dough: Drop spoonfuls of the remaining cookie dough over the caramel layer, distributing it as evenly as possible.
  10. Bake the Bars: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center remains slightly soft to the touch.
  11. Finish with Sea Salt: While the bars are still warm, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of flaked sea salt evenly over the top to enhance the flavors.
  12. Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before carefully lifting them out using the foil and cutting into squares for serving.

Notes

  • For best results, pre-bake the cookie base for 8-10 minutes before adding the caramel filling to help prevent sogginess.
  • Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
  • You can substitute unsalted butter for salted butter and adjust the salt amount to your preference.
  • Using pure vanilla extract enhances the depth of flavor in the cookie dough.
  • Feel free to experiment with different chocolate types like dark or milk chocolate chips.

Nutrition

Keywords: Salted caramel cookie bars, gooey caramel dessert, chocolate chip cookie bars, easy baked desserts, caramel chocolate bars

Find it online: https://ellaeatsdaily.com/gooey-salted-caramel-chocolate-chip-cookie-bars-youll-love-recipe-2/