Chocolate Chip Caramel Cookie Bars

These bars are so deliciously good. Essentially you have a chocolate chip cookie with yummy sweet caramel in the middle. My husband loved these bars and said they just may be better than a traditional chocolate chip cookie, which is one of his favorite cookies.

Chocolate Chip Caramel Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

Caramel Filling

• 11 ounce bag caramels
• 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

Cookie Dough

• 1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 cups light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 egg, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup old fashioned oats
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350º F. Line a 9x13 baking dish with parchment paper.

Caramel Filling

1. Unwrap caramels and place in a small saucepan.
2. Add in butter and sweetened condensed milk.
3. Cook over medium low heat, stirring occasionally, until caramels are completely melted and the mixture is smooth.

Cookie Dough

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add in peanut butter and mix until fully combined.
3. Add eggs in one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add in vanilla and mix.
4. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, oats, and baking powder.
5. Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients while mixing. Continue mixing until well combined.
6. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Assembly

1. Spread 2/3 of the dough into the bottom of the pan.
2. Slowly pour the caramel evenly over the dough.
3. Drop the remaining dough on top of the caramel by the teaspoonful.
4. Bake for 30 minutes.
5. Cool completely and then cut into bars.

Enjoy!!!

*Adapted from Mom On Timeout.