Caramel Chocolate Peanut Bars (Printable Version)

Decadent layered bars with chocolate chip cookie dough, gooey peanut butter caramel, and chocolate chips for an unforgettable treat.

# Ingredients:

→ Bars

01 - 1 cup butter, softened
02 - 1 cup brown sugar, packed
03 - 1/2 cup white sugar
04 - 2 medium eggs
05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
07 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
08 - 1 teaspoon salt
09 - 2 cups milk chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips

→ Caramel Sauce

10 - 14 ounces caramels, unwrapped
11 - 5 ounces canned evaporated milk
12 - 1/2 cup peanut butter

# Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Spray a 9×13" baking pan generously with non-stick cooking spray.
02 - In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and white sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.
03 - Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and mix until fully incorporated.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
05 - Fold in the chocolate chips by hand or using your mixer. The dough should be thick and slightly sticky.
06 - Spread half of the cookie dough evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 8-10 minutes until just set and lightly golden around the edges.
07 - While the dough is baking, combine the unwrapped caramels and evaporated milk in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on power level 5 for 1-2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until fully melted and smooth.
08 - Stir the peanut butter into the melted caramel until completely incorporated.
09 - Once the first layer of cookie dough is baked, remove from oven and pour the prepared caramel sauce evenly over the cookie layer.
10 - Drop the remaining dough by teaspoonfuls on top of the caramel layer. The caramel doesn't need to be completely covered.
11 - Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 17-20 minutes, until the cookie dough is golden brown and the caramel is bubbling.
12 - Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting into squares and serving.

# Notes:

01 - For best results, allow the bars to cool completely before cutting to ensure clean edges.

Go Back