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If you love desserts that combine buttery shortbread, rich caramel, and a touch of sea salt, these Easy Caramel Cookie Bars are your new go-to recipe. With just a few pantry staples, you can create a decadent dessert that tastes like it came straight from a bakery. Perfect for bake sales, holidays, or an afternoon treat, these cookie bars are irresistibly chewy, slightly crunchy, and beautifully layered with golden caramel.
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Whether you’re an experienced baker or just starting out, this recipe delivers professional-quality results with minimal effort. Each bite offers the perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors, making it a hit at any gathering.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These caramel cookie bars check every box for dessert perfection. Here’s what makes them irresistible:
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- Simple ingredients: Made from everyday pantry staples like butter, flour, and sugar.
- No special tools required: All you need is a bowl, a spoon, and a baking pan.
- Rich and buttery flavor: A golden crust layered with smooth, creamy caramel.
- Perfect texture: Chewy, soft, and slightly crisp around the edges.
- Versatile dessert: Great for parties, potlucks, holidays, or even as an indulgent snack.
Ingredients Breakdown
Let’s look at what makes these bars so delicious:
- All-purpose flour: The base that creates structure and a tender crumb.
- Unsalted butter: Softened butter adds richness and a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens and helps create a lightly crisp crust.
- Soft caramel candies: Melt into a luxurious, gooey layer of caramel filling.
- Heavy cream: Smooths and enriches the caramel sauce.
- Sea salt: A light sprinkle brings balance and enhances the sweetness.
Each ingredient works together to form the ultimate dessert bar — buttery, smooth, and satisfying.
Tips and Tricks
Achieve bakery-quality cookie bars with these expert baking tips:
- Use room temperature butter: This ensures even mixing and a smoother dough.
- Don’t skip pre-baking the crust: It gives the bars a firm base to hold the caramel filling.
- Melt caramels slowly: Keep the heat low to prevent burning or seizing.
- Cool completely before cutting: The caramel needs time to set for clean, even slices.
- Add a pinch of flaky salt on top: Enhances the flavor and gives that gourmet touch.
Variations and Customizations
These cookie bars are incredibly adaptable. Here are some creative ways to change things up:
- Chocolate Drizzle: Once cooled, drizzle melted chocolate over the bars for an extra indulgent twist.
- Nutty Caramel Bars: Add chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds between the crust and caramel layers.
- Salted Caramel Delight: Increase the sea salt topping for a bolder, salted caramel flavor.
- Brown Sugar Base: Replace granulated sugar with brown sugar for deeper, toffee-like notes.
- Shortbread Swap: Use shortbread cookie crumbs in the base for a more delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Pairing Suggestions
Make your caramel cookie bars even more enjoyable by pairing them with these simple additions:
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream: Adds a creamy, cool contrast to the warm caramel.
- Hot coffee or espresso: Balances sweetness with a slightly bitter note.
- Warm apple cider: Complements the caramel with cozy fall flavors.
- Whipped cream: Lightens up the richness for a dreamy bite.
Storage Instructions
Keep your caramel cookie bars fresh and delicious with proper storage:
- Room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerator: If you live in a warm climate, refrigerate for up to 5 days to keep the caramel firm.
- Freezer: Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Popular Questions
Can I use homemade caramel sauce instead of caramel candies?
Yes! If you have homemade caramel sauce, feel free to use it. Just ensure it’s thick enough to hold between the layers without running.
What if I don’t have heavy cream?
You can substitute it with half-and-half or evaporated milk. The caramel may be slightly less rich but still delicious.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Yes—simply replace the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend.
How do I know when the bars are done baking?
The top should be lightly golden and slightly firm to the touch. They will continue to set as they cool.
Easy Caramel Cookie Bars
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add flour gradually and mix until a soft dough forms.
- Press half of the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 10–12 minutes or until lightly golden.
- While the crust bakes, melt caramel candies and heavy cream together in a saucepan over low heat. Stir constantly until smooth.
- Pour the caramel sauce over the baked crust. Crumble the remaining dough on top and sprinkle with sea salt.
- Bake for another 15 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the caramel is bubbling.
- Let the bars cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares.
Notes
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- For an extra indulgent touch, drizzle melted chocolate on top or add crushed nuts before baking.
- You can also sprinkle chocolate chips on top or use any topping you like to make them your own.
- If the caramel layer feels too soft after baking, refrigerate for 30 minutes before slicing.
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