Gooey Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Recipe
These Gooey Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars combine the best of rich, buttery cookie dough with luscious caramel and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for a perfectly balanced sweet and salty treat. Soft and chewy with melty chocolate chips and a gooey caramel center, these bars are an indulgent dessert perfect for sharing or satisfying your sweet tooth.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Total Time: 40-45 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 0.5 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 0.75 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Add-ins & Topping
- 1.5 cups chocolate chips
- 1 cup thick caramel sauce
- Flaky sea salt, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, use a mixer to cream the softened unsalted butter with the brown sugar and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated, then add the vanilla extract and mix well.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined, careful not to overmix, then gently fold in the chocolate chips.
- Layer Dough and Caramel: Spread half of the cookie dough evenly into the prepared pan, spoon the thick caramel sauce over the dough layer, then top with the remaining cookie dough and gently spread to cover.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes or until the edges are set and golden and the center is still slightly soft and gooey.
- Finish and Cool: Remove from the oven, immediately sprinkle the surface with flaky sea salt for a perfect salty contrast, then allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares.
Notes
- Use thick caramel sauce for best gooey layers; caramel candies melted down can work as well.
- Do not overbake; the center should remain soft to keep bars gooey.
- Flaky sea salt enhances flavor but can be adjusted or omitted based on preference.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- For extra richness, you can chill dough before layering if desired.
Keywords: salted caramel cookie bars, chocolate chip bars, gooey cookie bars, caramel chocolate dessert, easy cookie bars
