Chocolate Chip Salted Caramel Cookie Bars

Name: Chocolate Chip Salted Caramel Cookie Bars
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 22 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup white granulated sugar; 1/4 cup water; 3 Tablespoons light corn syrup; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 1 cup butter; 3/4 cup white granulated sugar; 1 cup brown sugar; 1 Tablespoon vanilla; 2 egg; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 2 cups chocolate chips; sea salt (to taste)

40 minutes

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By: Julie Blanner6 Comments
Updated: 2/19/21

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These salted caramel chocolate chip cookie bars are the ultimate combination of sweet and salty flavors, and just as easy as a sheet of cookies. A decadent caramel sauce creates a chewy, buttery flavor that combines with a burst of sweet chocolate chips for a treat your family will inhale!

Marble surface with nine slices of salted caramel chocolate chip cookie bars.

Table of Contents

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.

Stack of three cookie bars with chocolate chips and salted caramel.

Love a decadent chocolate treat once in a while? Don’t skip my Hot Chocolate Bombs, and the spicier Mexican Hot Chocolate Bombs, too!

I love experimenting with delicious caramel flavors throughout my recipes, as evidenced in my brown sugar bundt cake, Pecan Pie Cookies, and these incredible caramel cheesecake cookies. And don’t miss my reader favorite quick and easy caramel rolls for your weekend breakfasts!

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.

Close up shot of chocolate chip cookie bars with salted caramel.

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!

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

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!

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!

These cookie bars are best served warm. Bonus points when topped with a scoop of something else incredibly delicious, and you know I’ve got a few ideas!

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!

Salted Caramel Chocolate chip cookie bars sliced and placed on a marble surface.

If you try these chocolate chip bars with salted caramel, please come back to share using my 5 star rating in the comments below! Not only do I appreciate it, but I know readers do, too!

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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 and of course, the best fall cookie recipes!