Description
Ultra-decadent cookie bars with layers of chewy brown sugar cookie, melty chocolate chips, and a gooey caramel-peanut butter swirl. These irresistible bars live up to their name with perfect texture contrasts in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup butter, softened (room temperature)
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup white sugar
- 2 medium eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups milk chocolate chips (Ghirardelli or Nestlé recommended)
- 14 oz unwrapped caramels (or caramel bits, Werther’s Original suggested)
- 5 oz canned evaporated milk
- ½ cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In large bowl, cream butter and both sugars until fluffy (3-4 minutes). Beat in eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
- Whisk flour, baking soda and salt in separate bowl. Gradually mix into wet ingredients until just combined.
- Fold in chocolate chips. Press ⅔ of dough evenly into prepared pan.
- In saucepan over low heat, melt caramels with evaporated milk, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter.
- Pour caramel mixture over dough layer, spreading evenly. Drop remaining dough by spoonfuls over caramel (will spread during baking).
- Bake 25-30 minutes until golden brown (center will still look slightly soft).
- Cool completely in pan on wire rack (2 hours minimum) before cutting into bars.
Notes
- For clean cuts: Chill 1 hour before slicing with a hot knife
- Storage: Keeps airtight at room temp for 4 days or freeze for 2 months
- Variation: Substitute Nutella for peanut butter for hazelnut flavor
- Pro tip: Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top after baking for flavor contrast
- Warning: Caramel layer will be extremely hot – allow proper cooling
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 34g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0.4g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 45mg