Description
These Salted Caramel Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars blend rich dark cocoa with buttery sugar cookie dough, topped with a luscious salted caramel frosting and a sprinkle of coarse sea salt for the perfect sweet and salty treat. Ideal for dessert lovers seeking a decadent yet easy-to-make bar cookie.
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
- Coarse ground sea salt for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Your Workspace: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick baking spray to ensure the cookie bars don’t stick.
- Create the Base: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter with both the brown and granulated sugars for about 2-3 minutes until the mixture becomes light and creamy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and caramel coffee creamer (or milk) until everything is 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 evenly distribute.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing carefully until a soft, uniform dough forms with no dry spots.
- Shape and Bake: Press the cookie dough evenly into the prepared 9×13 pan, smoothing to create a level surface. Bake in the preheated oven for 14-15 minutes, making sure not to overbake so the bars remain soft and chewy.
- Cool and Frost: Allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, spread the batch of salted caramel frosting evenly over the bars, then sprinkle coarse ground sea salt over the top for a perfect finishing touch.
Notes
- Use caramel coffee creamer or milk interchangeably depending on the flavor preference.
- Check bars at 14 minutes to avoid overbaking as ovens may vary.
- The salted caramel frosting can be made ahead and refrigerated, then brought to room temperature before spreading.
- Coarse sea salt adds a nice texture contrast and enhances the salted caramel flavor.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or refrigerate to extend freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Salted caramel, chocolate sugar cookie bars, dessert bars, chocolate cookie bars, salted caramel frosting, easy dessert, cookie bars recipe
