If you’ve ever wished your favorite chewy cookie and gooey caramel candy could team up for the ultimate treat, these Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are your dream come true. With buttery cookie dough playing host to pockets of melty chocolate and ribbons of caramel, every bite tastes like a celebration. These bars come together easily, require no special equipment, and are pretty much guaranteed to steal the show at any potluck, party, or cozy night in.

Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

Every ingredient in these Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars plays a starring role, promising perfect texture and irresistible flavor. From the classic duo of brown and white sugars to the rich, melty caramels, here’s what you’ll need to create layers of sweet, gooey bliss.

All-purpose flour: Provides structure and helps balance the gooey caramel so your bars don’t fall apart.
Baking soda: Gives the bars a bit of lift, creating that perfect, tender bite.
Salt: Enhances all the sweet, buttery, and chocolatey notes with just a pinch.
Unsalted butter (softened): The foundation for rich flavor and a classic cookie texture.
Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and creates those lovely crisp edges.
Brown sugar: Brings moisture and a subtle caramel taste that amps up the gooey factor.
Large eggs: Bind everything together for bars that hold their shape but stay tender.
Vanilla extract: Adds depth and rounds out all the flavors.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Scatter the dough with melty chocolate in every bite.
Chocolate chunks: Add bursts of bittersweet chocolate for that bakery-style appeal.
Soft caramels or caramel bits: The gooey, golden star of the show!
Heavy cream: Keeps the caramel smooth, silky, and easy to drizzle.

How to Make Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Step 1: Prep Your Pan and Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and take a minute to grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. This ensures your Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars release easily, with tidy edges and a golden base that never sticks.

Step 2: Combine the Dry Ingredients

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. This step evenly distributes the leavening and seasoning, giving your bars the perfect soft-but-sturdy texture in every bite.

Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugars

In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This builds air into the batter, making sure your bars bake up beautifully tender and full of flavor.

Step 4: Add Eggs and Vanilla

Beat in the eggs, one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract for that warm, bakery-style aroma wafting from your oven later.

Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gradually add the flour mixture to your butter mixture, stirring just until combined. Over-mixing can lead to tough bars, so stop as soon as you see the last streak of flour disappear.

Step 6: Fold in the Chocolate

Now the best part—gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips and chocolate chunks. This guarantees decadent chocolate pockets tucked throughout every square of your Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars.

Step 7: Press Dough into the Pan

Take about two-thirds of the dough and evenly press it into your prepared baking dish. Don’t worry about making it perfect; just try to keep the layer even to support the gooey caramel.

Step 8: Melt the Caramel

Combine the soft caramels (or caramel bits) with the heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30-second bursts, stirring each time, until the mixture is fully melted and smooth. Pour the warm caramel over the cookie dough, spreading it almost to the edges.

Step 9: Top with Remaining Dough

Drop spoonfuls of the remaining dough over the caramel layer and gently spread it around. Don’t worry if a little caramel peeks out—those bubbly golden swirls are a signature of Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars!

Step 10: Bake to Perfection

Bake for 25–30 minutes until the top is golden and set. The edges will be delightfully crisp, while the center stays gooey and thick with caramel. Let the bars cool completely in the pan for the best, cleanest slices.

Step 11: Cool and Slice

Patience pays off here! Allow the bars to cool before lifting them out and slicing into generous squares. The caramel will set up, ensuring each piece is gooey but easy to enjoy by hand.

How to Serve Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Garnishes

For an eye-catching finish, sprinkle the bars with a pinch of flaky sea salt as they cool. You can also drizzle extra melted chocolate or caramel over the cut squares for bakery-worthy flair. A dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream turns these into a show-stopping dessert plate.

Side Dishes

Pair your Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars with a tall glass of cold milk or hot coffee to balance out their sweetness. If you’re making a dessert platter, consider serving them with fresh strawberries or a light fruit salad to add some brightness to the plate.

Creative Ways to Present

Turn your bars into decadent ice cream sandwiches by sandwiching a scoop of vanilla ice cream between two squares. Or, cut the bars into small cubes and stack them on skewers alongside berries and marshmallows for a playful party snack. Mini muffin cups turn leftover bar pieces into grab-and-go bites for lunchboxes or picnics.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled, transfer your Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars to an airtight container. They’ll stay fresh and soft at room temperature for up to 3 days—if they last that long! For longer storage, keep them in the fridge, though the caramel will firm up a bit more.

Freezing

Want to have a stash ready for future cravings? These bars freeze beautifully! Wrap each bar tightly in plastic wrap, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to two months. Thaw at room temperature or pop in the fridge overnight before enjoying.

Reheating

For that gooey, fresh-from-the-oven magic, warm individual bars in the microwave for 10–15 seconds. This softens the caramel and chocolate just right. If you’re heating a larger batch, a few minutes in a low oven (around 300°F) does the trick.

FAQs

Can I use homemade caramel instead of store-bought?

Absolutely! If you have a favorite homemade caramel sauce, just use an equivalent amount in place of the store-bought caramels and heavy cream. Just make sure your caramel is thick enough to stand up between the layers.

What’s the best way to cut these bars cleanly?

Let the bars cool completely, then use a sharp knife greased with a little butter or sprayed with nonstick spray. Wiping the knife between cuts helps get those perfect, sharp-edged squares.

Can I make these Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars gluten-free?

Definitely! Substitute your favorite 1:1 gluten-free baking flour for the all-purpose flour, and make sure your other ingredients are gluten-free. The method stays exactly the same.

Should I use chocolate chunks, chips, or both?

Both add something special! Chocolate chips melt throughout, while the chunks give you big pockets of chocolatey richness. If you want to simplify, you can use all chips or all chunks to suit your preference.

What’s the texture like after they cool?

Once cooled, these Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are delightfully chewy with just the right amount of gooey caramel and melting chocolate. They hold their shape for easy serving but stay tender and soft inside.

Final Thoughts

If you love the timeless combination of chocolate and caramel, these Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are sure to become a fast favorite. They’re joyfully easy to make, utterly delicious, and guaranteed to bring smiles with every square. Give them a try, share them with friends, or keep them all to yourself—either way, you won’t be disappointed!

Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 7 reviews

Author: Lily
Total Time: 45-50 minutes
Yield: 24 bars 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

Indulge in the decadent goodness of Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars. These rich and gooey bars are a delightful treat for any occasion, combining the flavors of caramel, chocolate chips, and chunks in a soft and chewy cookie base.

Instructions

Preheat Oven and Prep Dish: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually mix in dry ingredients until just combined.
Add Chocolate: Fold in chocolate chips and chunks.
Prepare Base: Press two-thirds of the dough into the prepared pan.
Prepare Caramel Layer: Melt caramels with heavy cream until smooth and pour over the dough.
Top with Remaining Dough: Drop spoonfuls of remaining dough over the caramel and gently spread.
Bake: Bake for 25–30 minutes until the top is golden and set.
Cool and Serve: Cool completely before slicing into squares.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 280
Sugar: 20g
Sodium: 150mg
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Unsaturated Fat: 4g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 40g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 3g
Cholesterol: 35mg

Keywords: Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars, cookie bars, caramel bars, chocolate chip bars, dessert