Description
Indulge in the Ultimate Peanut Butter Caramel Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars, a decadent treat combining creamy peanut butter, gooey caramel, crunchy toffee bits, and melty chocolate chips. Perfectly balanced with a soft, chewy base and swirled layers of rich caramel and peanut butter, these bars are a delightful dessert for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup caramel sauce
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
Toppings
- 1 cup toffee bits
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper to ensure easy removal and clean cutting of the bars.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, use a whisk or mixer to cream together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the dough.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Mix in the two large eggs and vanilla extract until fully incorporated, ensuring an even texture throughout the batter.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agent and seasoning.
- Mix Dry into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overmixing which can lead to tough bars.
- Spread Dough: Evenly spread the cookie dough into the prepared 9×13-inch pan, flattening the surface with a spatula for uniform thickness.
- Swirl Peanut Butter and Caramel: Drizzle the creamy peanut butter and caramel sauce over the dough surface, then use a knife or toothpick to swirl them together gently for a marbled effect that ensures each bite has rich flavor.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the toffee bits and semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly across the top of the dough to add crunch and melty chocolate pockets.
- Bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges appear golden brown and the center is set but still slightly soft to maintain a chewy texture.
- Cool Completely: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing into 16 squares, which ensures clean slices and prevents crumbling.
Notes
- For a nut-free alternative, substitute the peanut butter with sunflower seed butter.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness and flavor.
- Use a toothpick to swirl peanut butter and caramel for an attractive marbled look.
- Allow bars to cool fully before cutting to achieve neat slices.
- Add a pinch of sea salt on top before baking for a perfect sweet-and-salty balance.
- Try experimenting with different nut butters like almond or cashew for a unique flavor twist.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: peanut butter bars, caramel toffee bars, chocolate chip dessert, cookie bars, easy baking recipe, peanut butter dessert
