Cave Cookie Bars

Indulge in the ultimate sweet treat with these irresistibly decadent Cave Cookie Bars, featuring layers of gooey caramel, rich chocolate, and buttery cookie dough. Perfectly marrying soft, chewy textures with a hint of crunch from chopped nuts, these bars are crowned with a drizzle of sea salt for the perfect salty-sweet balance. Made with pantry staples like brown sugar, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and a touch of sweetened condensed milk, this easy-to-make dessert comes together in just 15 minutes of prep time. Ideal for bake sales, potlucks, or simply satisfying your sweet tooth, these customizable cookie bars are sure to become a family favorite. Whether served warm from the oven or chilled for an extra-firm bite, they’re sure to disappear in record time!

Nutriscore Rating: 35/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.5 teaspoons baking soda
• 0.5 teaspoons salt
• 0.75 cups unsalted butter
• 0.75 cups brown sugar
• 0.5 cups granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 unit large eggs
• 1.5 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 0.75 cups chopped nuts (e.g., walnuts or pecans)
• 0.5 cups caramel bits or soft caramel candies
• 0.25 cups sweetened condensed milk
• 0.5 teaspoons sea salt (optional, for topping)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal, or grease the pan well.

Step 2

In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, beat the unsalted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until creamy and well combined, about 2-3 minutes.

Step 4

Add the vanilla extract and egg to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix until fully incorporated.

Step 5

Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined. Do not overmix.

Step 6

Fold in 1 cup of the semi-sweet chocolate chips and the chopped nuts into the cookie dough. Reserve 0.5 cups of chocolate chips for later.

Step 7

Press 2/3 of the cookie dough mixture into the prepared pan, creating an even layer.

Step 8

In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the caramel bits (or soft caramel candies) with the sweetened condensed milk. Stir frequently until smooth and well combined, about 2-3 minutes.

Step 9

Pour the caramel mixture evenly over the pressed cookie dough in the pan.

Step 10

Crumble the remaining cookie dough over the caramel layer, leaving some gaps so the caramel peeks through.

Step 11

Sprinkle the remaining 0.5 cups of chocolate chips on top. If desired, lightly sprinkle sea salt over the bars for a salty-sweet flavor.

Step 12

Bake in the preheated oven for 25-28 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and set. Do not overbake—the bars will continue to firm up as they cool.

Step 13

Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, about 1-2 hours.

Step 14

Once cooled, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan. Slice into 12 even squares or bars and serve.

Step 15

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or in the refrigerator for longer freshness.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1076.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4635.8

Total Fat 223.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 102.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g
Cholesterol 409.8mg	0%
Sodium 3362.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 661.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 27.9g	0%
Total Sugars 464.8g
Protein 64.4g	0%

Vitamin D 46.1IU	0%
Calcium 497.2mg	0%
Iron 19.6mg	0%
Potassium 1210.6mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 40.9%

Protein: 5.2%

Carbs: 53.9%