Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add-ins
- 1 cup caramel bits or chopped soft caramel squares
- 1 cup semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Start by measuring all your ingredients accurately and letting the butter soften to room temperature. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until fluffy and lighter in color. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Combine the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently just until incorporated—be careful not to overmix.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips and Caramel Bits: Gently fold in your chocolate chips and caramel pieces, distributing them evenly throughout the dough to ensure gooey pockets after baking.
- Bake to Perfection: Spread the dough evenly in the prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the edges are golden and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs. The caramel should remain soft and gooey.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before lifting them out to slice. This helps them set nicely without losing their delicate, gooey texture.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients to ensure even mixing and a smooth batter texture.
- Don’t overbake to keep the caramel melting and the texture soft and chewy.
- Choose soft caramel pieces that melt well for the best gooey effect.
- Line your pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- If the dough feels too soft, chill it for 15 minutes to prevent spreading too much during baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Can be gluten-free or vegan with modifications
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: caramel chocolate chip bars, gooey caramel bars, chocolate caramel dessert, chewy bars, easy dessert recipe