Ultimate Peanut Butter Caramel Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Recipe
These Ultimate Peanut Butter Caramel Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars combine all your favorite flavors into one decadent treat. Featuring a buttery cookie base swirled with creamy peanut butter and luscious caramel sauce, topped with crunchy toffee bits and melty chocolate chips, these bars are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth in every bite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Total Time: 40-45 minutes
- Yield: 24 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
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 of the bars.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. This step is key for a tender texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time and then the vanilla extract, mixing until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agent and salt throughout the flour.
- Mix Dry and Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined to avoid overworking the dough and toughening the bars.
- Spread Dough: Transfer the cookie dough to the prepared baking pan and spread it out evenly with a spatula to ensure uniform baking.
- Swirl Peanut Butter and Caramel: Drizzle the creamy peanut butter and caramel sauce over the dough surface. Using a knife or skewer, gently swirl them together to create a marbled effect without mixing completely.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the toffee bits and semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly over the top of the dough to add texture and bursts of flavor.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown and the center is set but still soft. Avoid overbaking to keep the bars chewy.
- Cool and Cut: Remove from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, lift out the parchment paper and cut into squares to serve.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is softened but not melted for the best creamy texture when creaming with sugars.
- Swirling peanut butter and caramel gently prevents them from sinking and helps maintain distinct flavor pockets.
- Letting the bars cool fully before cutting helps them set and prevents crumbling.
- You can substitute toffee bits with chopped nuts for a different texture.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or refrigerate for longer shelf life.
Keywords: peanut butter bars, caramel cookie bars, toffee chocolate chip bars, dessert bars, easy cookie bars
