Description
Whipping up Better Than Anything Bars will sweep your dessert game to new heights. Chocolate, caramel, and whipped cream create a luscious treat that disappears faster than you can slice it.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk chocolate chips
- 14 ounces caramels
- 1 cup butter
Sweeteners:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup white sugar
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 medium eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 5 ounces evaporated milk
- ½ cup peanut butter
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and coat a 9″x13″ pan with cooking spray thoroughly.
- Cream 1 cup softened butter with 1 cup brown sugar and ½ cup white sugar until the mixture looks fluffy and light.
- Incorporate 2 medium eggs individually, beating each time until fully blended. Mix in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Gradually blend 2 ¼ cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1 teaspoon salt into the wet ingredients.
- Gently fold 2 cups chocolate chips into the dough until evenly distributed.
- Press half the cookie dough into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly across the bottom.
- Bake the first dough layer at 375°F for 8-10 minutes until slightly set.
- Combine 14 ounces unwrapped caramels and 5 ounces evaporated milk in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave caramel mixture at 50% power for 1-2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until completely smooth.
- Stir ½ cup peanut butter into the melted caramel until fully incorporated.
- Spread the caramel-peanut butter mixture over the partially baked dough layer.
- Drop remaining cookie dough by small spoonfuls across the caramel surface.
- Return pan to the 375°F oven and bake an additional 17-20 minutes until the top turns golden brown.
- Remove from oven and allow bars to cool completely before cutting into squares.
Notes
- Always use room temperature butter for easier creaming and smoother dough texture.
- Chilling the caramel mixture for a few minutes before spreading helps prevent it from running too much.
- Line the baking pan with parchment paper for easier removal and cleaner cuts of the bars.
- For a gluten-free version, swap the flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend that contains xanthan gum.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 316 kcal
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 184 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 41 mg