Description
These Easy Caramel Cookie Bars are a deliciously buttery dessert featuring a crisp cookie crust topped with smooth, creamy caramel and a sprinkle of sea salt. Perfectly balanced between sweet and salty, these bars are simple to make and ideal for sharing at any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookie Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 0.75 cup granulated sugar
For the Caramel Topping
- 1 package soft caramel candies (unwrap individually, approx. 11 oz)
- 0.25 cup heavy cream
- 0.5 tsp sea salt (for sprinkling on top)
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for your cookie dough.
- Mix in the Flour: Gradually add the all-purpose flour into the butter and sugar mixture, stirring gently until fully combined into a dough.
- Form the Crust: Press half of the cookie dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the base layer for your bars.
- Bake the Crust: Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until it turns a light golden color and is set but not browned too deeply.
- Melt the Caramel: While the crust is baking, melt the soft caramel candies with the heavy cream in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Add the Caramel Layer: Once the crust is baked, immediately pour the warm caramel mixture evenly over the crust layer in the pan.
- Add Remaining Dough and Sea Salt: Crumble the remaining half of the cookie dough over the caramel layer to create a crumb topping, then sprinkle sea salt evenly on top for a perfect sweet and salty finish.
- Bake the Bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and set.
- Cool and Serve: Let the bars cool completely in the pan before cutting them into squares to ensure clean slices and the caramel layers hold together well.
Notes
- Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature for easier creaming with sugar.
- Use a toothpick to check the crust doneness; it should come out mostly clean when golden.
- You can substitute sea salt with flaky finishing salt for added texture and flavor.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- For a richer flavor, use European-style butter with higher fat content.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 27 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: caramel cookie bars, easy caramel bars, caramel dessert, cookie bars, sweet and salty dessert
