Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
These Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are filled with chocolate chips and a surprise homemade caramel center. These cookie bars are pure bliss in every bite!
Ingredients
For the Cookie Dough Base:
- 1 stick butter softened (½ cup)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ½ cups flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt or sea salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Sea salt flakes for on top optional
For the Caramel Sauce:
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- Pinch of salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ cup evaporated milk
Instructions
Prepare the Cookie Dough Base:
- Line a 9x9 baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Using a standard mixer, beat together the butter and sugars. Add the egg and vanilla extract and continue mixing at high speed for 5 minutes.
- Mix flour, salt, and baking soda in a small bowl and add it to the wet ingredients. Beat until just combined and fold in the chocolate chips.
- Place dough in the refrigerator and prepare the caramel sauce.
Prepare the Caramel:
- Spray nonstick cooking spray in a medium sized saucepan and add the butter, brown sugar, water, and salt.
- Stir at medium high heat. Once the butter has melted, bring the sauce to a boil. Once the sauce has reached a boil, reduce heat and let simmer for 6 minutes. Continue stirring to avoid crystallization.
- Remove the sauce from heat and stir in the evaporated milk and vanilla until smooth.
Assemble the Bars:
- Remove the cookie dough from the refrigerator and press half of it into the 9x9 pan.
- Spread 1 cup of caramel sauce on top of the dough in an even layer. Sprinkle small chunks of the other half of the dough on top of the caramel layer covering most of the surface.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the cookie dough is set. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with sea salt if desired.
- Cool bars completely and then cut and serve. Enjoy!