Chocolate Chip Caramel Cookie Bars
User Reviews
4.8
Chocolate Chip Caramel Cookie Bars
Description
The Chocolate Chip Caramel Cookie Bars start with mixing softened salted butter and brown sugar, followed by flour, oats, salt, and baking soda to create a dough with a slightly coarse texture due to oats. Pressing two-thirds of this dough into the pan and pre-baking it forms a golden foundation that holds up under the caramel. The caramel sauce, poured evenly on top, provides a luscious, sticky layer that contrasts with the firmer cookie crust.
Sprinkling semisweet chocolate chips over the caramel adds a rich chocolate flavor, and crumbled remaining cookie dough scattered on top adds a rustic finish after baking a second time. The baking process encourages slightly crispy edges and a tender center, with bubbling caramel visible under the chocolate. Cooling completely before cutting ensures clean bars that maintain shape.
This recipe allows variations such as making your own caramel sauce or doubling the recipe for larger batches. Old-fashioned oats give the bars additional texture and chew compared to quick oats.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter salted
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups old-fashioned oats
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup caramel sauce I use Trader Joe's caramel sauce or homemade (see note)
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips or bittersweet or milk chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9X13-inch aluminum baking pan with foil (helps with cleanup) and lightly grease with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl with an electric handheld mixer or in the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the softened butter and brown sugar until well-mixed. Add the flour, oats, salt and baking soda and mix until combined.
- Press about 2/3 of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10-11 minutes until lightly golden and puffy.
- Pour the caramel sauce evenly over the top. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the caramel. Finish by crumbling the remaining cookie mixture on top.
- Bake for another 12-13 minutes until the edges are golden and the caramel is bubbling.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares.
Notes
- Trader Joe's caramel sauce works well, or use homemade caramel for added depth.
- Double the recipe to fill a large 11x17-inch pan for a bigger batch.
- Older fashioned oats contribute a chewier texture; quick oats haven't been tested here.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 24Bars (9X13-inch pan)
Amount Per Serving
Calories kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 Bar | |
| Calories | 217kcal | 11% |
| Carbohydrates | 29g | 10% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 11g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Cholesterol | 21mg | 7% |
| Sodium | 198mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 12g | 24% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.8
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