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Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars

Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars
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These Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars combine a tender buttery base with rich, gooey caramel and melty chocolate chips to create an irresistible dessert. Perfect for sharing or indulging, this easy-to-make treat balances sweetness and texture in every bite.

Ingredients

Scale

Base Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Toppings

  • 1 ½ cups chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk chocolate), divided
  • 1 cup caramel sauce or 10–12 soft caramel candies, melted

Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Pan and Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring some overhang for easy removal later.
  2. Make the Base Mixture: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture, mixing until just combined to avoid overworking the dough.
  4. Add Half of the Chocolate Chips: Fold in half of the chocolate chips gently into the dough, reserving the rest for topping.
  5. Form the Base in the Pan: Press two-thirds of the dough evenly into the prepared pan to create a solid base layer.
  6. Layer the Caramel: Spread the caramel sauce or melted caramel candies evenly over the base layer, ensuring a thick, even coat.
  7. Top with Remaining Dough and Chocolate Chips: Crumble the remaining dough over the caramel layer, then sprinkle with the reserved chocolate chips for a rich top.
  8. Bake and Cool: Bake for 30-35 minutes until the top is golden and the caramel bubbles at the edges. Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting to ensure clean slices and perfect texture.

Notes

  • Use room temperature butter to make creaming easier and improve the base texture.
  • Do not overmix the dough to keep the bars tender.
  • Using high-quality caramel sauce or candies enhances flavor.
  • Cool bars completely before slicing for neat edges and proper caramel setting.
  • Line the pan with parchment paper with an overhang to easily remove the bars without sticking.

Nutrition

Keywords: chocolate chip caramel bars, caramel dessert, chocolate chip bars, easy bake dessert, family dessert, caramel chocolate bars

Find it online: https://recipesbykaeli.com/chocolate-chip-caramel-bars/