The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars Recipe That Melts Hearts

Sweet memories often bubble up when crafting delectable chocolate chip caramel bars that melt hearts instantly.

Layers of gooey caramel intertwine with rich chocolate morsels, creating a dessert that whispers comfort.

Crisp edges and soft centers promise an irresistible experience for anyone seeking indulgence.

Baking these treats brings warmth to kitchen counters and smiles to faces.

Chocolate lovers will appreciate the delicate balance between sweet caramel and classic chip flavors.

Unexpected textures dance across your palate with each carefully prepared bite.

You simply must try this decadent recipe that turns ordinary moments into spectacular culinary celebrations.

What Makes Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars So Tasty

• Craft a Crowd-Pleaser: Transform ordinary ingredients into a dessert that'll have everyone asking for seconds, making you the ultimate kitchen hero.
• Conquer Complex Flavors Easily: Blend rich caramel, smooth chocolate, and buttery dough without requiring professional baking skills, perfect for home cooks of all levels.
• Layer Like a Pro: Create stunning visual and taste dimensions by strategically placing chocolate chips and caramel chunks, turning a simple bar into a gourmet experience.
• Minimal Prep, Maximum Satisfaction: Require just basic baking tools and straightforward techniques to produce a decadent treat that looks and tastes impressively complicated.

What Goes Into Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars

• All-Purpose Flour: A key ingredient that provides structure and texture to the bars.
• Baking Soda: Helps the dough rise and creates a soft, tender consistency.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor and balances the sweetness of the dessert.

• Butter: Adds richness and creates a smooth, creamy base for the dough.
• Brown Sugar: Provides a deep, caramel-like sweetness and helps create a moist texture.
• Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and contribute to the bars' tender crumb.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds a warm, aromatic flavor that complements the caramel and chocolate.

• Chocolate Chips, Caramel Chunks: Create delicious pockets of sweetness and provide contrasting textures throughout the bars.
• Caramel Sauce: Adds a luxurious, gooey element that enhances the overall flavor profile of the dessert.

Simple Steps For Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars

Step 1: Warm Up The Oven

Crank the oven to a cozy 350°F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, letting it hang over the edges for super easy bar removal later.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

Grab a medium bowl and whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt until they’re perfectly blended and look like a uniform powdery mixture.

Step 3: Cream Butter And Sugar

In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter and brown sugar until they transform into a fluffy, light cloud-like consistency with zero sugar crystals remaining.

Step 4: Add Egg Magic

Crack eggs into the butter mixture one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Splash in vanilla extract and blend everything until smooth.

Step 5: Combine Wet And Dry

Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring carefully until a soft, consistent dough forms without overmixing.

Step 6: Prepare First Dough Layer

Set aside about one-third of the dough for topping. Press the remaining dough evenly into the prepared baking pan, creating a solid foundation.

Step 7: Sprinkle Chocolate Base

Scatter chocolate chips across the dough layer, ensuring an even distribution of chocolatey goodness.

Step 8: Drizzle Caramel Sauce

Pour caramel sauce generously over the chocolate chips, making sure every inch gets a delicious caramel coating.

Step 9: Add Caramel Chunks

Strategically place caramel chunks across the sauce layer to create unexpected bursts of sweet texture.

Step 10: Create Crumbly Topping

Crumble the reserved dough over the caramel layer, making a rustic top that lets peek glimpses of the gooey caramel underneath.

Step 11: Bake To Perfection

Slide the pan into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the top turns a beautiful golden brown with crispy edges.

Step 12: Cool And Set

Remove from oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan. Use the parchment paper overhang to lift out the entire batch.

Step 13: Slice And Serve

Cut into squares and serve at room temperature for the ultimate caramel and chocolate experience that’ll make taste buds dance.

Smart Tips For Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars

• Achieve Butter Perfection: Soften butter at room temperature for 30-60 minutes to ensure smooth, even creaming without overmixing.
• Chocolate Chip Distribution: Gently press chocolate chips into the base layer to prevent sinking during baking, creating an even chocolate experience.
• Caramel Drizzle Technique: Warm caramel sauce slightly before drizzling to ensure smooth, even coverage across the entire base layer.
• Crumble Top Trick: Use cold, slightly firm reserved dough for easier crumbling and a more rustic, textured top layer.
• Cooling Crucial Step: Let bars cool completely in the pan to allow caramel to set and flavors to meld, preventing crumbly cuts.

Different Takes On Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars

• Gluten-Free Chocolate Caramel Bars: Replace wheat flour with almond or coconut flour, ensuring a celiac-friendly version with the same rich flavor profile.
• Vegan Caramel Chocolate Squares: Swap butter for coconut oil, use flax eggs instead of regular eggs, and select dairy-free chocolate chips to create a plant-based treat.
• Nutty Caramel Chocolate Variation: Incorporate chopped pecans or walnuts into the base layer, adding a crunchy texture and complementary nutty undertones to the classic recipe.
• Low-Sugar Alternative: Substitute brown sugar with monk fruit sweetener or stevia, using sugar-free caramel sauce to reduce overall sugar content while maintaining delicious taste.

Tasty Pairings For Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars

• Pair Creamy Milk Stout: Smooth, chocolatey milk stout complements the rich caramel and chocolate layers, enhancing dessert's deep sweetness with balanced roasted notes.
• Create Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Companion: Cold, silky vanilla ice cream provides refreshing contrast against warm, gooey caramel blondies, creating temperature and flavor harmony.
• Recommend Salted Caramel Latte: Warm espresso-based drink with salted caramel syrup mirrors dessert's flavor profile, amplifying caramel undertones and cutting through richness.
• Select Dark Rum Cocktail: Aged dark rum's complex caramel and woody hints beautifully interact with blondie's caramel chunks, delivering sophisticated dessert pairing experience.

Best Way To Store Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars

• Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Wrap bars individually in plastic wrap before placing in the container to maintain moisture and prevent sticking.
• Carefully stack bars between parchment paper layers in a freezer-safe container. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before serving.
• Keep bars in sealed container at cool room temperature for 2-3 days. Place wax paper between layers to prevent bars from connecting.
• Warm individual bars in microwave for 10-15 seconds to restore gooey texture. Alternatively, reheat in oven at 300°F for 5 minutes to maintain crisp edges and soft center.

Your Questions About Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars Answered

• What kind of caramel works best in this recipe?

Soft, high-quality caramel sauce and thick caramel chunks create the best flavor and texture. Homemade or premium store-bought brands provide rich, deep caramel notes.

• Can I substitute ingredients if I don't have everything on hand?

Yes, you can replace brown sugar with white sugar, use margarine instead of butter, or swap chocolate chip varieties. Ensure ingredient measurements remain consistent.

• How do I know when the bars are perfectly baked?

Look for a golden-brown top with slightly crisp edges. The center should appear set but still slightly soft. A toothpick inserted near the center will come out with a few moist crumbs.

Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars Recipe

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4.7 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 45-50 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Sweet layers of buttery caramel and rich chocolate meld together in these irresistible chocolate chip caramel bars. Crisp edges and gooey centers promise delightful indulgence that will make dessert lovers swoon and crave another bite.

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Ingredients

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Dry Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt

Chocolate and Caramel Ingredients:

• 2 cups chocolate chips
• 1 cup caramel sauce
• 1/2 cup caramel chunks

Wet Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing slight overhang for easy removal.
2. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl, creating a uniform dry mixture.
3. Cream softened butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy, ensuring no sugar granules remain.
4. Incorporate eggs one at a time into the butter mixture, mixing thoroughly after each addition, then blend in vanilla extract.
5. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until a smooth, consistent dough forms.
6. Reserve approximately 1/3 of the dough for the top layer, pressing the remaining dough evenly into the prepared baking pan.
7. Distribute chocolate chips across the base layer, creating an even chocolate foundation.
8. Drizzle caramel sauce generously over the chocolate chips, ensuring complete coverage.
9. Sprinkle caramel chunks strategically across the caramel sauce layer for added texture.
10. Crumble the reserved dough over the caramel layer, creating a rustic, uneven top that allows glimpses of the caramel underneath.
11. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top turns golden brown and the edges appear slightly crisp.
12. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely in the pan before lifting out using parchment paper.
13. Slice into squares, serving at room temperature for optimal gooey caramel and chocolate experience.

Notes

• Chill the reserved dough for 15-20 minutes before crumbling to ensure a more defined, crumbly texture on top.
• For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, maintaining the same measurements.
• Enhance the caramel flavor by using dark brown sugar instead of light brown sugar, which adds deeper, more complex sweetness.
• Prevent caramel from burning by ensuring an even drizzle and avoiding pooling in any single area of the bar.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 384
• Sugar: 22g
• Sodium: 120mg
• Fat: 22g
• Saturated Fat: 13g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 44g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 3g
• Cholesterol: 50mg