Gooey Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars ????✨
These Gooey Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are the ultimate indulgence! Imagine layers of buttery chocolate chip cookie dough sandwiching a gooey salted caramel center—each bite is sweet, salty, and decadently rich. Perfect for potlucks, parties, or an indulgent night in, these bars are easy to make and absolutely irresistible.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Sweet and Salty Perfection: A delightful balance of caramel sweetness and a hint of salt.
- Simple to Make: No need to roll cookies; just layer and bake.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for sharing (if you can)!
Ingredients for Gooey Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
For the Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 cups chocolate chips
For the Salted Caramel Layer
- 1½ cups caramel candies, unwrapped
- 3 tbsp heavy cream
- ½ tsp sea salt
How to Make Gooey Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
1️⃣ Prepare the Caramel
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine caramel candies and heavy cream.
- Microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring between each, until the caramel is smooth and fully melted. Stir in the sea salt and set aside.
2️⃣ Make the Cookie Dough
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until creamy.
- Add the eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Fold in the chocolate chips.
3️⃣ Assemble the Bars
- Press half of the cookie dough evenly into the prepared pan.
- Pour the salted caramel over the cookie dough layer, spreading it evenly.
- Drop spoonfuls of the remaining cookie dough over the caramel, gently spreading it to cover as much of the caramel as possible.
4️⃣ Bake
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and set.
5️⃣ Cool and Slice
- Let the bars cool completely in the pan before lifting them out using the parchment overhang.
- Slice into squares and serve.
Tips for Perfect Cookie Bars
- Don’t Overbake: Slightly underbaking keeps the bars gooey.
- Use Good Quality Caramel: High-quality caramel candies make a big difference in flavor.
- Customize the Toppings: Sprinkle additional sea salt or drizzle melted chocolate over the cooled bars for extra flair.
Why This Recipe is a Winner
These bars combine the best of everything: the chewiness of a cookie, the gooeyness of caramel, and the perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors. They’re easy to make but taste like they came from a bakery.
Nutritional Information (Per Bar, Makes ~16 Bars)
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 4g
- Fat: 17g
- Carbs: 48g
Ready for the ultimate dessert indulgence? Try these Gooey Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars and prepare to fall in love with every bite! ????✨
