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Gooey Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Recipe

Gooey Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Recipe
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★★★★★

5.2 from 29 reviews

These Gooey Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars offer a decadent treat combining a buttery cookie base, rich melted caramel, and melty chocolate chips, all topped with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for the perfect sweet and salty experience. Soft, chewy, and irresistibly indulgent, they are perfect for a dessert or special snack.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • ½ cup granulated white sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Caramel Layer

  • One 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  • 10 ounces soft caramels (unwrapped, about 40 caramels)
  • 1 teaspoon flaked sea salt

Instructions

  1. Prepare Pan and Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with foil and generously coat it with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
  2. Make the Cookie Dough: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer on medium speed to cream together the butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar for about 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla extract, kosher salt, and baking soda, then mix until fully combined, scraping the bowl as needed. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add the flour, mixing until just combined. Stir in the semi-sweet chocolate chips by hand.
  3. Press Dough into Pan: Reserve about one-quarter of the cookie dough, then press the remaining three-quarters evenly into the prepared baking pan, creating a firm base layer.
  4. Prepare Caramel Mixture: In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the sweetened condensed milk and soft caramels. Stir frequently until the caramels have completely melted and the mixture is smooth.
  5. Assemble Layers: Pour approximately three-quarters of the caramel mixture over the pressed dough in the pan. Drop the reserved remaining cookie dough in teaspoon-sized dollops evenly over the caramel layer. Save any leftover caramel for another use if desired.
  6. Bake the Bars: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the center is just set and the edges are lightly golden.
  7. Finish and Cool: Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle with flaked sea salt. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan to set before lifting out the foil and cutting into bars.

Notes

  • Use room temperature butter for easier creaming and better texture.
  • The caramel mixture must be stirred frequently over low heat to prevent burning.
  • Make sure the bars cool completely before cutting to avoid crumbling.
  • Flaked sea salt on top elevates flavor with a perfect sweet and salty contrast.
  • Stored in an airtight container, bars keep well for up to 5 days at room temperature or can be frozen for longer storage.
  • For an extra decadent touch, drizzle remaining caramel over ice cream as suggested.

Nutrition

Keywords: salted caramel, chocolate chip, cookie bars, gooey dessert, chocolate caramel bars, easy dessert recipe

Find it online: https://topreci.com/gooey-salted-caramel-chocolate-chip-cookie-bars-recipe/