Indulge in these decadent Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Oat Cookie Bars, where soft oatmeal chocolate chip cookie crust meets gooey homemade salted caramel, rich dark chocolate, and toasted nuts. A perfect treat for any occasion, these bars are sure to impress!
Ingredients:
For the Homemade Salted Caramel:
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons (90g) water
- 4 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter, sliced
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons (100g) heavy cream (room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Hefty pinch of kosher salt
- 7 tablespoons (60g) all-purpose flour
For the Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough:
- 1 cup (95g) quick oats
- 1 ¼ cups (165g) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup (110g) unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 1 cup (210g) dark brown sugar (packed)
- 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup (85g) semisweet chocolate chips
- ¾ cup (130g) dark chocolate chips
- ¾ cup (95g) walnuts or pecans (finely chopped)
- Flaky sea salt (for sprinkling)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Homemade Salted Caramel:
- Gather all caramel ingredients in advance for easy mixing while hot. Ensure your heavy cream is at room temperature; warm it if necessary.
- In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the water and sugar, gently stirring to mix. Avoid sugar on the pan’s sides.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat and let the sugar dissolve without stirring.
- Watch as the mixture changes from clear to light golden and then to rich amber. Gently nudge with a spatula if it browns unevenly.
- Once amber, remove from heat and whisk in the butter. Slowly add the heavy cream while whisking until smooth. Stir in the vanilla and salt, then return to medium heat and bubble for 2 minutes. Finally, whisk in the flour and set aside to cool slightly.
2. Make the Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together oats, flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine softened butter and dark brown sugar until smooth, either by hand or with an electric mixer.
- Mix in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing until combined, and fold in the semisweet chocolate chips just before fully incorporating the flour.
3. Assemble the Bars:
- Spread about 2/3 of the cookie dough in the bottom of the prepared baking dish, topping it with an even layer of the chopped nuts.
- Bake for 8 minutes, then refrigerate the remaining dough.
- After 8 minutes, remove the crust from the oven and top with dark chocolate chips. Pour the salted caramel over the chocolate chips (if thickened, heat slightly to loosen). Dollop the reserved cookie dough on top in random blobs.
4. Bake:
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top is lightly golden. Allow the bars to cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, then chill in the refrigerator for about an hour.
5. Serve:
- To release the bars from the pan, carefully run a knife around the edges and lift them out using the parchment paper. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt before slicing into bars.
Enjoy these Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Oat Cookie Bars perfect for sharing or savoring alone! The delightful combination of textures and flavors will leave you wanting more! 🍫🌟