If you love the combination of sweet and salty, then Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Oat Cookie Bars are the perfect treat for you. These delicious bars bring together the rich flavors of caramel, chocolate, and oats, creating a delightful snack or dessert. They are easy to make and perfect for sharing with family and friends.
Why Make This Recipe
There are many reasons to make these Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Oat Cookie Bars. First, they are incredibly tasty. The mixture of sweet caramel, dark chocolate chips, and crunchy nuts creates a wonderful flavor that can satisfy your sweet tooth. Second, they are simple to prepare. With just a few steps, you can create a delicious treat that everyone will love. Lastly, they are versatile. You can serve them at gatherings, pack them for lunch, or enjoy them as a late-night snack.
How to Make Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Oat Cookie Bars
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp (90g) water
- 4 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter, sliced
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp (100g) heavy cream, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Hefty pinch of kosher salt
- 7 tbsp (60g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (95g) quick oats
- 1 1/4 cup (165g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 cup (110g) unsalted butter, room temp
- 1 cup (210g) dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (85g) semisweet chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup (130g) dark chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup (95g) walnuts or pecans, finely chopped
- Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling
Directions:
Homemade Salted Caramel: In a medium saucepan, combine the granulated sugar and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Stop stirring and let the mixture bubble until it turns a golden color. Remove it from the heat and carefully add the sliced butter, stirring until melted. Add the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and a hefty pinch of kosher salt. Mix well and set aside to cool.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, quick oats, baking powder, and kosher salt. In another bowl, beat the room temperature butter and dark brown sugar until creamy. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract, mixing well. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture until combined. Fold in the semisweet chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, and chopped nuts.
Combine: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a greased baking pan, press half of the cookie dough mixture into the bottom. Pour half of the salted caramel on top, then add the remaining cookie dough in chunks on top of the caramel. Drizzle the rest of the salted caramel on top of the cookie dough.
Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Let it cool completely in the pan before cutting into bars.
How to Serve Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Oat Cookie Bars
These cookie bars are perfect for serving at gatherings or parties. You can cut them into squares and place them on a serving plate. If you want to elevate the serving, consider drizzling extra salted caramel on top or sprinkling a little more flaky sea salt for flavor.
How to Store Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Oat Cookie Bars
To store these cookie bars, let them cool completely, then place them in an airtight container. They can be kept at room temperature for up to a week. If you want them to last longer, you can freeze them for up to three months. Just be sure to wrap them well to avoid freezer burn.
Tips to Make Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Oat Cookie Bars
- Use Room Temperature Ingredients: For the best texture, make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature before mixing.
- Don’t Overmix: When combining dry and wet ingredients, mix until just combined to keep the bars soft and chewy.
- Watch the Caramel: Be careful when making the caramel. It can go from perfect to burnt quickly, so keep an eye on it while cooking.
Variation
If you want to try something different, you can swap out the nuts for your favorite type of nut or even omit them altogether. You can also use white chocolate chips instead of dark for a different flavor profile.
FAQs
1. Can I use old-fashioned oats instead of quick oats?
Yes, you can, but the texture will be slightly different. Quick oats create a chewier bar.
2. How can I make the caramel ahead of time?
You can make the salted caramel a day in advance and store it in the fridge. Just heat it up slightly before using to make it pourable.
3. Can I add other mix-ins like dried fruit or coconut?
Absolutely! Feel free to get creative with your mix-ins. Dried fruit or shredded coconut would add a nice touch to these bars.
Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Oat Cookie Bars
Ingredients
For the Salted Caramel
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar 150g
- 1/4 cup water plus 2 tbsp (90g)
- 4 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter sliced
- 1/4 cup heavy cream room temperature plus 2 tbsp (100g)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- hefty pinch kosher salt
For the Cookie Dough
- 7 tbsp all-purpose flour 60g
- 1 cup quick oats 95g
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 165g
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature (110g)
- 1 cup dark brown sugar packed (210g)
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips 85g
- 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips 130g
- 3/4 cup walnuts or pecans finely chopped (95g)
- flaky sea salt for sprinkling
Instructions
Homemade Salted Caramel
- In a medium saucepan, combine the granulated sugar and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Stop stirring and let the mixture bubble until it turns a golden color. Remove it from the heat and carefully add the sliced butter, stirring until melted. Add the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and a hefty pinch of kosher salt. Mix well and set aside to cool.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, quick oats, baking powder, and kosher salt.
- In another bowl, beat the room temperature butter and dark brown sugar until creamy. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract, mixing well.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture until combined. Fold in the semisweet chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, and chopped nuts.
Combine
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a greased baking pan, press half of the cookie dough mixture into the bottom.
- Pour half of the salted caramel on top, then add the remaining cookie dough in chunks on top of the caramel. Drizzle the rest of the salted caramel on top.
Bake
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Let it cool completely in the pan before cutting into bars.
