Description
Irresistible salted caramel chocolate sugar cookie bars combine rich chocolate with buttery caramel for a delightful dessert experience. Gooey layers and sprinkled sea salt elevate these bars into a memorable sweet treat that everyone will crave.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup dark cocoa powder
- 2 tbsps caramel coffee creamer (alternative: milk)
- 2 tsps vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 batch salted caramel frosting
- coarse ground sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and coat a 9×13 baking pan with non-stick spray, ensuring complete coverage.
- In a large mixing bowl, whip the softened butter with brown and granulated sugars until light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the cookie bars.
- Blend in the egg, vanilla extract, and coffee creamer (or milk) into the sugar mixture, stirring until completely integrated and uniform in texture.
- Sift flour, dark cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl to eliminate potential lumps and ensure even distribution of dry ingredients.
- Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing until a consistent chocolate dough forms without overmixing.
- Spread the dough evenly across the prepared baking pan, using a spatula to create a smooth, level surface that will bake uniformly.
- Bake for 14-15 minutes, watching carefully to prevent over-browning, ensuring the bars remain soft and chewy in the center.
- Remove from oven and allow the cookie bars to cool completely to room temperature, which helps set the texture.
- Apply salted caramel frosting in a generous, even layer across the cooled surface, covering the entire cookie base.
- Optional: Sprinkle coarse sea salt over the frosted bars to enhance the caramel’s richness and provide a delightful flavor contrast.
- Cut into 24 individual bars and store in an airtight container to maintain freshness and prevent drying.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth and even mixing, preventing lumps in the dough.
- Avoid overmixing the dough to keep the bars tender and prevent a tough texture.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend.
- Experiment with different types of caramel creamer or milk to create unique flavor variations.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 212 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 140 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg