Description
Delightfully rich and buttery, these Easy Caramel Cookie Bars combine a tender cookie crust with a luscious, creamy caramel layer, finished with a sprinkle of sea salt for a perfect sweet and salty balance. Perfect as a dessert or a sweet snack, these bars are simple to prepare and bake, resulting in a deliciously chewy and decadent treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Base
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 0.75 cup granulated sugar
Caramel Layer
- 1 package soft caramel candies, unwrapped
- 0.25 cup heavy cream
Topping
- 0.5 tsp sea salt, for sprinkling on top
Instructions
- Preparation Steps: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined, creating the base for your cookie crust.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour to the creamed butter and sugar mixture, stirring gently until fully incorporated. Take half of this dough and press it evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the crust.
- Bake the Crust: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake the crust for 10-12 minutes, or until it turns lightly golden and is set firmly.
- Melt Caramel Mixture: While the crust is baking, combine the unwrapped soft caramel candies with the heavy cream in a small saucepan. Heat over low heat, stirring frequently until the caramel is completely melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Assemble Layers: Remove the crust from the oven and immediately pour the warm caramel mixture evenly over it. Crumble the remaining half of the cookie dough over the caramel layer to create a crumbly topping, then sprinkle the sea salt evenly over the top.
- Final Bake: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and set.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan to let the caramel layer firm up, then cut into squares or bars for serving.
Notes
- Be sure to use soft caramel candies for easy melting and a smooth caramel layer.
- Letting the bars cool completely before cutting ensures cleaner slices and prevents caramel from oozing out.
- For extra flavor, you can add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the caramel mixture.
- These bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Sprinkling sea salt enhances the caramel flavor but can be omitted if preferred.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 27 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Caramel Cookie Bars, Easy Dessert Bars, Caramel Bars, Cookie Bars, Sweet Snack, Homemade Caramel Bars
