Salted Caramel Cookie Bars
I like chocolate, don't get me wrong here. I could eat chocolate everyday and not complain....but my relationship with caramel is nothing but LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
This cookie bar is super easy to make and uses simple ingredients.
It has a layer of "cookie" dough, a layer of cream cheese filling and a layer of caramel.
It gets swirled all together and topped off with coarse sea salt. YUM!
Ingredients
3 eggs
1 stick melted butter
1 vanilla cake mix
3 cups powdered sugar
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup heavy cream + 1 tablespoon
1 bag of caramel candies (11 oz)
coarse sea salt
Directions
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Using a hand mixer, combine the butter and one egg with the cake mix. Mix until it becomes the consistency of cookie dough.
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Spread this mixture into a greased 9x13 pan. The dough should touch the sides of the pan and come up slightly along the edges.
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Using the same bowl, combine the cream cheese, powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon heavy cream and two eggs. Mix well and pour over the top of the cookie dough.
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In a microwave safe bowl, place the unwrapped caramels and 1/3 cup heavy cream. Microwave for 2 minutes or until melted. Stir well to remove lumps.
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Pour over the top of the cream cheese mixture and use a knife to create swirls. This does not have to be perfect because it is going to change when it is baked anyway!
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Place pan into a preheated 325 degree oven. Bake for about 25-35 minutes...more or less depending on the oven. It will be ready when it is slightly brown all around the edges and the middle has set.
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Remove from the oven and sprinkle with sea salt.
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Set aside. Don't try to slice it now! Just WALK AWAY! Seriously...just WALK AWAY! Allow this to cool completely. This takes several hours. If you try to slice it before it cools, it may not cooperate!
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When it has cooled completely, use a knife to cut into bars. The caramel may be a bit chewy, but using a sharper knife will help. This is not a job for the little ones!
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Enjoy!