Description
These Gooey Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are the ultimate sweet and salty dessert! They have a buttery chocolate chip cookie base, a rich caramel center, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt to balance the sweetness. They’re perfect for parties, holidays, or whenever you need a next-level cookie bar!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- For the Cookie Dough:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- For the Caramel Filling:
- 1 cup soft caramel candies (unwrapped)
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt (plus extra for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat & Prepare:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper and lightly grease it.
- Make the Cookie Dough:
- In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth.
- Add eggs and vanilla, mixing until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, stirring until just combined.
- Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Prepare the Caramel Layer:
- In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the caramel candies and heavy cream in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth.
- Stir in ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt.
- Assemble the Bars:
- Press half of the cookie dough evenly into the prepared pan.
- Pour the melted caramel mixture over the dough, spreading evenly.
- Drop spoonfuls of the remaining cookie dough over the caramel, gently spreading to cover as much as possible.
- Bake:
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and slightly firm.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle with extra flaky sea salt while warm.
- Cool & Serve:
- Let cool for at least 1 hour (or chill in the fridge for gooier bars).
- Slice into squares and enjoy!
Notes
- Use homemade caramel sauce instead of candies for a more natural option.
- Add chopped nuts (like pecans or walnuts) for extra crunch.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 3–4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Calories: ~320
- Sugar: ~28g
- Sodium: ~180mg
- Fat: ~16g
- Saturated Fat: ~9g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~6g
- Trans Fat: ~0g
- Carbohydrates: ~42g
- Fiber: ~1g
- Protein: ~3g
- Cholesterol: ~40mg