Better Than Anything Bars
Soft, chewy cookie bars layered with gooey caramel, peanut butter, and melted chocolate—decadent, rich, and absolutely irresistible.
Ingredients
For the Cookie Base:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 medium eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips
For the Caramel Layer:
14 oz soft caramels, unwrapped
5 oz canned evaporated milk
1 cup creamy peanut butter
Instructions
Preheat the Oven:
Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Make the Cookie Dough:
In a large bowl, beat together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Stir in the vanilla.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the butter mixture.
Fold in 1 cup of the chocolate chips (save the rest for topping).
Assemble the Base:
Spread half of the cookie dough evenly into the prepared pan.
Bake for 8–10 minutes, just until the base begins to set (it should not be fully baked).
Make the Caramel Sauce:
In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the caramels with the evaporated milk, stirring constantly until smooth.
Remove from heat and stir in the peanut butter until fully blended.
Layer the Bars:
Pour the warm caramel mixture over the partially baked cookie base.
Drop spoonfuls of the remaining dough over the top—it won’t cover the caramel completely, and that’s perfectly fine.
Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips over everything.
Finish Baking:
Return the pan to the oven and bake for 15–18 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is set.
Cool and Serve:
Let the bars cool completely in the pan before slicing to allow the caramel to firm up.
For an extra treat, drizzle with melted chocolate or a pinch of flaky sea salt before serving.
Time & Servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Yields: 12 rich, indulgent bars