Chocolate Chip Bars with Salted Caramel
I love chocolate chips cookies and as you know, anything salted caramel. So naturally, when I spotted this idea of a cookie bar combination at a local bakery, I had to try it for myself!
These cookie bars are almost as quick and easy to make as traditional chocolate chip cookies, with the added benefit of caramel sauce for a creamy, decadent twist.
I love experimenting with delicious caramel flavors throughout my recipes, as evidenced in my brown sugar bundt cake and these incredible caramel cheesecake cookies. And don’t miss my reader favorite quick and easy caramel rolls for your weekend breakfasts!
The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
The first batch I tried was almost as amazing as I thought they would be. However, the caramel became crunchy and a bit too many chocolate chips for me. I don’t always get it right the first time! Creating delicious recipes takes work – and yes, I always eat the results no matter how they turn out.
So I tried again, and adapted the original recipe with my caramel sauce.
The result? They are seriously too good to be true.
I like to give a lot of detail in my recipe posts to guide readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, feel free to click “jump to recipe” right under the title of this post and you’ll head straight there!
Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar Ingredients
These cookie bars are so good, you’re going to have a hard time stopping. Half the pan? I won’t judge you, I promise. Let’s get started!
Many of these ingredients are pantry staples!
SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE:
- sugar
- water
- corn syrup
- heavy cream
COOKIE BARS:
- Butter – Salted or unsalted, your choice, I always bake with salted butter.
- Sugar – Granulated sugar.
- Brown Sugar – Brown sugar adds a hint of molasses flavor for a classic chocolate chip cookie taste.
- Vanilla – A hint of vanilla adds a lot of flavor.
- Eggs – Large, preferably.
- Baking Soda – The blend of two leavening agents make these chocolate chip cookie bars with salted caramel rise to perfection.
- Baking Powder – Always make sure your baking powder is fresh.
- Salt – Salt enhances the flavor of all the other ingredients in baking, and you have to balance the sweet.
- Flour – All purpose flour, no need to sift.
- Chocolate Chips – Semi-sweet, milk chocolate, dark chocolate – it’s your choice, but I tend to go with semi-sweet!
- Sea Salt – A secret to taking it over the top is adding a few cracks of thick sea salt flakes just before baking.
QUICK TIP: You can absolutely buy your own caramel sauce. It makes these delicious cookie bars even simpler. There’s nothing quite as good as homemade caramel, but they will still taste incredible, I promise!
How to Make Your Cookie Bars
These are just as simple as any of the easy cookies I share on a regular basis, but you’ll be creating your own caramel sauce in an added step. Yes, it takes a little longer, but it’s worth it.
And as I said, you’re welcome to purchase a caramel sauce if you’re intimidated by this step. (But don’t be! It’s easier than you think!)
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the first three ingredients (sugar, water, corn syrup), stirring until sugar dissolves.
- Increase heat and continue to boil without stirring until the mixture becomes amber in color (approximately 10 minutes).
- Remove from heat, add cream and return sauce to low heat until smooth.
- Meanwhile, combine butter and sugars with vanilla in a large mixing bowl or your mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
- Gently blend in eggs, careful not to over mix.
- Combine dry ingredients and slowly incorporate into wet mixture until combined.Then fold in chocolate chips.
- Next, scoop 1/2 of dough into greased baking dish/pan.
- Now, add your layer of the caramel you made.
- Top with remaining layer of dough.
- Bake 17-22 minutes until golden brown.
- You can let it cool completely, or for an extra indulgent treat, serve it warm!
QUICK TIP: I like to check these bars at around 17 minutes. They have an average bake time of 22 minutes in my oven- yours might be different. You don’t want to over bake and risk losing that chewy, delicious texture!
Toppings for Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Add a scoop (or three) of my homemade no churn vanilla ice cream. Just two ingredients and you’ll have a delicious ice cream addition to these cookie bars!
- Have you ever made homemade whipped cream? Once you try it, you’ll never go back to store bought.
- Another great idea? Double the first three ingredients and you’ll have double the caramel sauce! Hold the second half back to pour a decadent layer of caramel over your salted caramel chocolate chip cookie bars!
More Caramel Recipes You’ll Love
I love everything caramel and I’ve got even more recipes you’re going to love. Be sure to check out a few of these delicious recipes!
- Easy Salted Caramel Pecan Pie Bars
- Caramel and Banana Muffins
- Salted Caramel Frosting
- Caramel Cream Cheese Quick Bread
- Salted Caramel Sugar Cookies
Chocolate Chip Bars with Salted Caramel Printable Recipe:
Chocolate Chip Salted Caramel Cookie Bars
Ingredients
CARAMEL SAUCE
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 3 Tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
COOKIE DOUGH
- 1 cup butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla
- 2 egg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 cups flour
- 2 cups chocolate chips
- sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the first 3 ingredients {sugar, water, corn syrup}, stirring until sugar dissolves.
- Increase heat and continue to boil without stirring until the mixture becomes amber in color {approximately 10 minutes}.
- Remove from heat, add cream and return sauce to low heat until smooth. Set aside.
- Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, combine butter, vanilla, sugar and brown sugar.
- Gently blend in eggs, careful not to overmix.
- Gradually add in flour mixture.
- Fold in chocolate chips.
- In a 9x13 greased pan, spread half of your cookie dough.
- Pour caramel sauce over dough and crack sea salt on top.
- Add the second layer of cookie dough and lightly top with sea salt.
- Bake 17-22 minutes.
Notes
- If you'd like a shortcut, replace the homemade caramel sauce in this recipe with your favorite jarred caramel sauce.
- I like to really watch these in the oven starting at the 17 minute mark. Usually mine are perfect at about 22 minutes- every oven is different!
- Don't overmix!
- Don't over bake if you want to keep that chewy, soft texture to these bars.
OK, I made these and. . .YUM! So tasty. I forgot to add the salt on top of the dough near the end of the recipe, but added it when it came out of the oven and it was still delicious. Thanks for the great recipe!
Is 3 Tablespoons vanilla correct? Thanks so much….just wanted to double check….looks delicious! Happy New Year!
It is! You can never have too much in my eyes.
Looks so good! About how many bars did you get out of this recipe?
They are! 18 or so, all depending on how you slice them. Enjoy!
oh yum. i think i will have to test this one out on mike – he is crazy about anything related to a chocolate chip cookie!
Chris requested them for Admin Day at his office. I wish I had made a double batch, they didn’t last long!