Description
Indulgent Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars bring rich, gooey layers of sweet and salty comfort to classic dessert expectations. Crumbly edges, molten chocolate, and caramel swirls promise delightful moments that chocolate enthusiasts will savor completely.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
Sugars and Sweeteners:
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Binding and Flavoring Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt, plus more for topping
Instructions
- Coat an 8-inch square baking vessel with parchment paper, ensuring edges extend beyond the pan for effortless removal.
- Create the foundational oat mixture by blending flour, oats, baking soda, and salt in a comprehensive mixing vessel.
- Incorporate melted butter, brown sugar, and vanilla extract into the dry components, gently folding until a cohesive dough emerges.
- Distribute roughly half the prepared dough across the parchment-lined pan, pressing firmly to establish an even, compact base layer.
- Position the pan into a preheated 350F (175C) oven, allowing the base to solidify and slightly crisp for approximately 10 minutes.
- Extract the partially baked foundation and liberally scatter chocolate chips across the surface, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
- Delicately drizzle caramel sauce over the chocolate chips, using a spatula to achieve uniform distribution.
- Sprinkle a measured quantity of sea salt to enhance the caramel’s complex flavor profile.
- Crumble the remaining dough atop the caramel layer, creating an artistic, rustic arrangement with strategic exposed sections.
- Return the pan to the oven, baking for 15-20 minutes until the surface achieves a rich, golden-brown coloration.
- Remove from oven and allow complete cooling within the pan, enabling structural stabilization.
- Utilize parchment edges to extract the entire confection, then slice into precise, uniform squares or rectangular segments.
Notes
- Enhance the cookie base’s texture by chilling the dough for 30 minutes before pressing into the pan, creating a firmer, more compact foundation.
- Experiment with different chocolate variations like dark, milk, or white chocolate chips to customize the flavor profile and match personal preferences.
- Reduce sugar content by using sugar-free caramel sauce or replacing some brown sugar with monk fruit sweetener for a lower-calorie alternative.
- Ensure even caramel distribution by warming the sauce slightly before pouring, which helps it spread smoothly across the chocolate chip layer.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg