Easy Caramel Cookie Bars Recipe

Introduction

These Easy Caramel Cookie Bars combine a buttery cookie base with a luscious caramel topping, finished with a sprinkle of sea salt for the perfect balance of sweet and salty. Simple to make and irresistibly delicious, they’re great for sharing or enjoying as a special treat at home.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 0.75 cup granulated sugar
• 1 package soft caramel candies (unwrap individually)
• 0.25 cup heavy cream
• 0.5 tsp sea salt (for sprinkling on top)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan to prepare for the dough.
2. Step 2: In a mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy.
3. Step 3: Add the all-purpose flour to the butter and sugar mixture, stirring until well combined. Press half of this dough evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan.
4. Step 4: Bake the dough base for 10-12 minutes until it turns lightly golden and is set.
5. Step 5: While the crust bakes, melt the soft caramel candies with the heavy cream over low heat, stirring until smooth and combined.
6. Step 6: Pour the melted caramel mixture evenly over the baked crust. Then crumble the remaining half of the dough on top of the caramel layer and sprinkle with sea salt.
7. Step 7: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown.
8. Step 8: Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting into squares for serving.

Tips & Variations

• For extra texture, add chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to the caramel layer before baking.
• Use fleur de sel instead of regular sea salt for a more delicate finishing touch.
• Try mixing in a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the dough for added flavor.

Storage

Store the caramel cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week. When ready to serve, let refrigerated bars come to room temperature or warm briefly in the microwave to soften the caramel.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use store-bought caramel sauce instead of melting caramel candies?

Yes, you can substitute with about 1 cup of store-bought caramel sauce. Reduce or omit the heavy cream as needed to achieve a pourable consistency.

What is the best way to prevent the caramel from burning?

Melt the caramel candies slowly over low heat and stir frequently. Adding heavy cream helps to smooth the caramel and prevent it from scorching.

Easy Caramel Cookie Bars Recipe

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4.4 from 119 reviews

These Easy Caramel Cookie Bars feature a buttery, tender cookie crust topped with smooth, creamy caramel and a touch of sea salt. Perfectly baked until golden and gooey, these bars combine sweet and salty flavors for a delightful treat that’s ideal for sharing or enjoying as a decadent snack.

• Author: Amaya
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 27 minutes
• Total Time: 42 minutes
• Yield: 12 bars 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cookie Base

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 0.75 cup granulated sugar

Caramel Topping

• 1 package soft caramel candies (unwrap individually)
• 0.25 cup heavy cream
• 0.5 tsp sea salt (for sprinkling on top)

Instructions

1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan thoroughly to prevent sticking.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, use a mixer or a strong spoon to cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light, fluffy and well combined.
3. Add Flour and Form Dough: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the butter and sugar mixture, stirring until just combined into a dough. Take half of this dough and press it evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking pan.
4. Bake Crust: Bake the pressed crust in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes until it is lightly golden around the edges and set firm to the touch.
5. Melt Caramel Mixture: While the crust bakes, melt the soft caramel candies with the heavy cream over low heat in a saucepan, stirring constantly until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
6. Assemble Bars: Pour the melted caramel evenly over the warm baked crust. Crumble the remaining half of the cookie dough over the caramel layer and sprinkle the top with sea salt for a perfect balance of sweetness and saltiness.
7. Final Bake: Return the pan to the oven and bake the assembled bars for an additional 15 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and bubbly.
8. Cool and Serve: Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares to serve.

Notes

• Use soft caramel candies for easy melting; if using hard caramels, chop into smaller pieces before melting.
• Sprinkling sea salt on top enhances the caramel flavor by adding a salty contrast.
• Allow bars to cool fully to ensure clean cuts and less sticky bars.
• You can line the baking pan with parchment paper for easier removal.
• Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.

Keywords: caramel cookie bars, caramel bars, easy dessert, caramel dessert, cookie bars, homemade caramel bars