Description
These Salted Caramel Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars combine rich cocoa flavor with smooth caramel coffee creamer to create a decadent yet easy-to-make dessert. The soft, chocolatey cookie base is topped with luscious salted caramel frosting and a sprinkle of coarse sea salt for the perfect balance of sweet and salty.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Bars
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons caramel coffee creamer (or milk)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup dark cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Frosting & Garnish
- 1 Batch Salted Caramel Frosting (prepared separately)
- Coarse ground sea salt for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Your Workspace: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Spray or grease a 9×13 inch baking pan evenly to prevent sticking.
- Create the Base: Using a mixer, beat the softened butter with both the brown and granulated sugars until the mixture becomes light and creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Incorporate the egg, vanilla extract, and caramel coffee creamer into the butter and sugar mixture. Beat until fully combined and smooth.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, dark cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt to ensure all dry ingredients are well distributed.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until a soft dough forms without overmixing.
- Shape and Bake: Press the soft dough evenly into the prepared 9×13 pan, leveling the surface with a spatula or your hands. Bake in the preheated oven for 14-15 minutes. Remove when the edges are set but the center is still slightly soft to avoid overbaking.
- Cool and Frost: Allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, spread the salted caramel frosting evenly over the bars and sprinkle coarse ground sea salt on top for an added flavor contrast.
Notes
- Do not overbake the bars; a slightly soft center ensures chewy texture.
- You can substitute caramel coffee creamer with regular milk if preferred.
- For the salted caramel frosting, prepare a homemade or store-bought version according to taste preference.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate to extend freshness.
- Allow bars to cool fully before frosting, or the frosting may melt and become runny.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Salted caramel, chocolate sugar cookies, cookie bars, caramel frosting, easy dessert
