Easy Caramel Cookie Bars Recipe
These Easy Caramel Cookie Bars combine a buttery, tender cookie base with a luscious melted caramel layer, topped with a golden crumbly dough and a sprinkle of sea salt for the perfect balance of sweet and salty. Perfect as a dessert or a special treat to share, these bars are straightforward to make with simple ingredients and bake in under 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 27 minutes
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 0.75 cup granulated sugar
- 1 package soft caramel candies, individually unwrapped
- 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). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan thoroughly to prevent sticking and set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter together with the granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color, which usually takes about 3-4 minutes with an electric mixer.
- Make the dough base: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the butter and sugar mixture, stirring until just combined. Take half of this dough mixture and press it evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to create the base crust.
- Bake the crust: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake the crust for 10-12 minutes, or until it becomes lightly golden and set. Remove from oven and set aside.
- Melt the caramel topping: While the crust bakes, gently melt the individually unwrapped soft caramel candies with the heavy cream in a saucepan over low heat. Stir continuously until the caramel mixture is smooth and fully combined. Remove from heat immediately once melted.
- Assemble the bars: Pour the smooth caramel mixture evenly over the baked crust. Then crumble the remaining half of the cookie dough evenly over the caramel layer. Finally, sprinkle the sea salt evenly across the top to enhance the flavors.
- Bake the assembled bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the topping turns golden brown and is set.
- Cool and serve: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, cut into squares or bars and serve.
Notes
- For easier removal, line the baking pan with parchment paper before greasing.
- Be careful not to overbake the crust to maintain a tender texture.
- If caramel mixture thickens too much while melting, add a teaspoon of heavy cream to loosen it.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- For extra flavor, consider sprinkling a pinch of flaky sea salt on top just before serving.
Keywords: caramel cookie bars, caramel dessert, easy baking, sweet bars, homemade caramel bars, dessert bars
Find it online: https://tastemadebyclara.com/easy-caramel-cookie-bars-recipe/
