Prepare to meet your new favorite dessert bar: Chocolate Chip Caramel Butter Bars. Rich, gooey, and packed with layers of sweet flavor, these bars are the ultimate treat for caramel lovers and cookie fans alike.
Imagine a buttery cookie dough base filled with melty chocolate chips and luscious caramel, then topped with more crumbled cookie dough. Every bite is soft, sweet, and just a little bit salty — dessert perfection.
These bars are like a cross between a chocolate chip cookie, a blondie, and a caramel square. The dough is rich with butter and brown sugar, creating a soft, chewy texture that pairs beautifully with the gooey caramel center.
They’re incredibly easy to make with pantry staples, and you don’t need any fancy equipment or techniques — just a bowl, a pan, and a sweet tooth.
The magic comes from layering: press in half the dough, pour in the caramel, sprinkle on chocolate chips, then crumble the rest of the dough over the top. As it bakes, everything melts together into a buttery, golden dream.
You can use store-bought soft caramels or make your own caramel sauce. Either way, the results are rich and indulgent.
These bars are ideal for potlucks, bake sales, or holiday trays. They transport well, slice cleanly, and stay soft for days.
You can also customize them — swap chocolate chips for chunks, add chopped pecans, or sprinkle with flaky salt to highlight the caramel.
Because they’re made in a single pan, cleanup is minimal, and the reward is high. They freeze beautifully, too — if you can resist eating them all at once.
They’re decadent, nostalgic, and totally addictive. One bite, and you’ll be hooked.
Bake a batch when you need a comforting dessert or a guaranteed crowd-pleaser — these bars never last long.
Trust us: your cookie game just got upgraded.
Servings
Makes: 16 bars
Time
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 (11 oz) bag soft caramels, unwrapped
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy.
- Add flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix until a soft dough forms.
- Stir in chocolate chips.
- Press half of the dough into the prepared pan.
- In a saucepan, melt caramels with cream over low heat until smooth.
- Pour caramel over dough layer. Spread evenly.
- Crumble remaining dough over the top.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, until golden brown.
- Cool completely before cutting into bars.
Tips
- Don’t overbake — they’ll set as they cool.
- Add a pinch of sea salt to the caramel for salted caramel flavor.
- Use parchment paper for easy lifting and clean slicing.
- Freeze leftovers for up to 2 months.
- Let bars cool fully before cutting to keep layers clean.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Rich, gooey, and buttery
- Layers of caramel and chocolate
- Easy one-pan dessert
- Perfect for sharing and gifting
- Totally addictive!
Summary
Chocolate Chip Caramel Butter Bars are a layered dessert with buttery cookie dough, gooey caramel, and melty chocolate chips. Easy to make and impossible to resist, they’re the perfect sweet treat for any occasion.
