Description
Rich salted caramel chocolate chip cookie bars merge sweet and salty flavors in a delightful dessert. Gooey chocolate and caramel create a mouthwatering treat that satisfies most intense cookie cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp flaky sea salt, plus more for topping
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, allowing overhang for easy removal.
- Dry Mixture: Thoroughly combine flour, oats, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl, creating a uniform dry foundation.
- Dough Creation: Blend melted butter, brown sugar, and vanilla extract into the dry ingredients, mixing until a consistent, malleable dough forms.
- Base Layer: Press half the dough evenly into the prepared pan, creating a compact, smooth foundation. Bake for 10 minutes until lightly set.
- Flavor Layering: Generously distribute chocolate chips across the partially baked base, followed by a strategic drizzle of caramel sauce, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
- Seasoning: Sprinkle sea salt over the caramel and chocolate layer to intensify the flavor complexity.
- Topping Assembly: Crumble remaining dough across the surface, creating an artful, rustic pattern with intentional open spaces.
- Final Baking: Return to the oven and bake 15-20 minutes until the surface achieves a rich, golden-brown hue.
- Cooling and Serving: Allow complete cooling in the pan to stabilize structure, then lift out using parchment edges and slice into precise, uniform segments.
Notes
- Prevent Sticking: Line the baking pan with parchment paper, letting edges hang over for easy removal and clean cutting.
- Achieve Perfect Texture: Press the base layer firmly and evenly to create a compact, uniform foundation that bakes consistently.
- Balance Flavor Intensely: Sprinkle sea salt strategically to enhance the caramel’s depth and create a sophisticated sweet-salty contrast.
- Ensure Optimal Baking: Allow bars to cool completely in the pan, which helps set the structure and prevents crumbling when slicing.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg