Easy Caramel Cookie Bars Recipe
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.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 27 minutes
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
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
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
Find it online: https://amayaharis.com/easy-caramel-cookie-bars-recipe/
