Description

These Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are pure dessert perfection soft, buttery cookie dough layered with gooey caramel and a sprinkle of sea salt for that irresistible sweet-salty magic. Every bite melts in your mouth, combining the richness of chocolate, the smoothness of caramel, and just the right hint of crunch from the sea salt. Perfect for parties, bake sales, or anytime you crave a decadent treat!

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Caramel Mixture:

11 oz soft caramels, unwrapped
14 oz sweetened condensed milk
½ teaspoon sea salt flakes (such as Maldon)

Instructions

Preheat & Prepare:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper and lightly grease it to ensure easy removal later.
Make the Cookie Dough:
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and well combined.
Combine the Dry Ingredients:
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, sea salt, and baking soda. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips with a spatula to keep the dough tender.
Prepare the Caramel Mixture:
In a small saucepan, melt the caramels with the sweetened condensed milk over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth and creamy. Stir in a pinch of sea salt flakes.
Assemble the Bars:
Press half of the cookie dough evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan. Pour the caramel mixture over the dough, spreading it to the edges. Drop spoonfuls of the remaining cookie dough over the caramel layer it’s fine if some caramel peeks through.
Bake to Perfection:
Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the edges are set. The center should still be slightly soft it will firm up as it cools.
Cool & Slice:
Let the bars cool completely in the pan before slicing. For cleaner cuts, chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

Dough Consistency:
The cookie dough should be thick but soft enough to press easily into the pan. If it feels too sticky, chill it for 10–15 minutes before layering this will help it hold its shape and make assembly neater.
Caramel Layer Care:
When melting caramels, keep the heat low and stir constantly to prevent scorching. Once smooth, work quickly to spread the caramel layer over the dough before it starts to firm up again.
Even Baking:
To ensure even baking, rotate the pan halfway through the bake time. This helps prevent the edges from over-browning while the center finishes setting.
Cooling Time Matters:
Allowing the bars to cool completely is essential for clean slicing. Warm caramel can ooze and cause the bars to break apart if cut too early, so patience truly pays off here.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 25–30 minutes
Category: Dessert, Bars, Cookies
Method: Baked
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 280
Sugar: 26g
Sodium: 160mg
Fat: 14g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 38g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 3g
Cholesterol: 45mg

Keywords: salted caramel bars, chocolate chip cookie bars, caramel dessert, sweet and salty dessert, gooey cookie bars