Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Oat Cookie Bars Recipe Ultimate Sweet Bar

Warm kitchen memories flood back when baking these salted caramel chocolate chip oat cookie bars that blend sweet nostalgia with modern comfort.

Layers of rich chocolate melt between chewy oat textures, creating a dessert that feels like a warm hug.

Caramel threads weave through each bite, adding unexpected depth to classic cookie flavors.

Butter and brown sugar mingle to craft a sensational backdrop for intense chocolate chunks.

Sea salt crystals provide surprising pops of intense flavor that dance across your palate.

Soft yet sturdy, these bars promise a delightful balance between crisp edges and tender centers.

Why Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Oat Bars Are a Favorite

• Simple and Delightful Bars
• Minimal ingredients and straightforward steps make these cookie bars accessible for bakers of all skill levels, ensuring success with minimal kitchen stress.
• Ready in under 45 minutes, these salted caramel chocolate chip bars offer a speedy dessert solution perfect for unexpected guests or sudden sweet cravings.
• Combining rich caramel, chocolate chips, and sea salt creates an irresistible sweet-salty experience that transforms ordinary oat cookies into a gourmet treat, guaranteed to impress family and friends.
• Ideal for potlucks, weekend gatherings, or afternoon snacks, these bars can be prepared ahead of time and serve multiple people with minimal effort.

What Goes Into These Sweet-Salty Cookie Bars

• All-Purpose Flour, Rolled Oats: Classic base for creating a chewy, hearty cookie texture with nutty undertones. Whole wheat flour can be a wholesome alternative.
• Baking Soda: Essential leavening agent that helps the bars rise and become light. Fresh baking soda ensures best results.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness. Use fine sea salt for even distribution.

• Butter: Provides rich, creamy flavor and helps bind the cookie base. Unsalted butter gives better control over saltiness.
• Brown Sugar: Adds deep caramel-like sweetness and moisture to the bars. Dark brown sugar offers more intense flavor.
• Vanilla Extract: Brings warm, aromatic depth to the cookie base. Pure vanilla extract recommended for best taste.

• Chocolate Chips, Caramel Sauce: Create decadent, gooey layers with contrasting sweet flavors. Semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips work best.
• Sea Salt: Adds sophisticated flavor contrast and enhances caramel and chocolate notes. Flaky sea salt provides delightful crunch.

How to Bake the Perfect Batch of Oat Bars

Step 1: Prepare Baking Dish

Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper, creating slight overhangs for easy removal.

Step 2: Create Oat Cookie Dough

• All-purpose flour
• Rolled oats
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Unsalted butter
• Brown sugar
• Vanilla extract

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Melt butter and combine with brown sugar and vanilla. Stir until a cohesive dough forms.

Step 3: Build Initial Cookie Layer

Press half the dough firmly into the prepared baking dish, creating an even bottom layer. Bake for 10 minutes until slightly set and edges begin to turn golden.

Step 4: Add Decadent Chocolate and Caramel

• Chocolate chips
• Caramel sauce
• Flaky sea salt

Distribute ingredients evenly across the surface.

Step 5: Create Crumble Topping

Scatter remaining cookie dough across the caramel layer, leaving some gaps to allow caramel and chocolate to peek through.

Step 6: Final Baking

Return to oven and bake 15-20 minutes until top turns golden brown and edges look slightly crispy.

Step 7: Cool and Slice

Let bars cool completely in the pan. Use parchment paper handles to lift entire batch out. Cut into squares using a sharp knife.

Tips for Getting the Layers Just Right

• Prevent Sticky Situation: Line the baking dish with parchment paper, ensuring overhang for easy removal and clean cuts of the bars.
• Balance Sweetness Perfectly: Sprinkle sea salt over caramel to enhance the flavor profile and create a delightful sweet-salty contrast.
• Achieve Ideal Texture: Press the first layer of dough firmly and evenly to create a solid base that supports the gooey caramel and chocolate layers.
• Master Doneness Check: Look for a golden-brown top and slightly set edges to know when the bars are perfectly baked, avoiding overbaking.
• Customize Your Treat: Swap chocolate chips with white chocolate or add chopped nuts for a personalized twist on this classic dessert.

Store and Reheat Your Cookie Bars Like a Pro

• Store cooled cookie bars in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Keep them between layers of parchment paper to prevent sticking.
• Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months for maximum freshness.
• Remove frozen bars from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before enjoying. Avoid microwaving to maintain texture.
• Warm bars gently in a preheated oven at 300F for 5-7 minutes to restore their soft, gooey texture. This method helps revive the caramel and chocolate layers without drying out the oat base.

What Matches These Bars on a Dessert Plate

• Select rich, sweet dessert wines like Sauternes or Port that complement the caramel and chocolate notes, creating a decadent flavor harmony.
• Serve warm cookie bars alongside creamy vanilla bean ice cream, letting the cold, smooth texture contrast beautifully with the warm, gooey bars.
• Brew a bold espresso or dark roast coffee to cut through the sweetness and highlight the complex layers of salted caramel and chocolate.
• Pour a crisp, slightly sweet sparkling rosé that provides refreshing acidity to counterpoint the rich, dense cookie bars.

Ideas to Make These Bars Even More Fun

• Gluten-Free Oat Cookie Bars: Replace regular flour with gluten-free flour blend and ensure oats are certified gluten-free for those with wheat sensitivities.
• Vegan Caramel Chocolate Version: Swap butter with coconut oil, use dairy-free chocolate chips, and create plant-based caramel using coconut milk and maple syrup.
• Nutty Crunch Edition: Incorporate chopped almonds or pecans into the dough for extra texture and a rich, toasted flavor profile.
• Low-Sugar Alternative: Use monk fruit sweetener instead of brown sugar and sugar-free chocolate chips to reduce overall sugar content while maintaining delicious taste.

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Oat Cookie Bars Recipe

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4.7 from 18 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 16 1x

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Description

Salted caramel chocolate chip oat cookie bars blend irresistible layers of sweet and salty goodness. Rich chocolate, buttery caramel, and hearty oats create a perfect harmony that will make dessert lovers swoon with delight.

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Ingredients

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Primary Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup unsalted butter, melted

Sweeteners and Binding Agents:

• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Seasonings and Extras:

• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
• ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt, plus more for topping

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Instructions

1. Meticulously coat an 8-inch baking vessel with parchment paper, ensuring generous edges extend beyond the pan for effortless extraction after baking.
2. Blend dry ingredients – flour, rolled oats, baking soda, and salt – in a comprehensive mixing vessel.
3. Incorporate melted butter, rich brown sugar, and aromatic vanilla extract into the dry mixture, gently folding until a cohesive dough emerges.
4. Distribute half the prepared dough across the parchment-lined pan, pressing firmly to create an even, compact foundation.
5. Transition the pan into a preheated 350°F oven, allowing the base to set and slightly crisp for approximately 10 minutes.
6. Carefully extract the partially baked foundation and generously cascade chocolate chips across the entire surface.
7. Drizzle caramel sauce uniformly over the chocolate chips, ensuring complete coverage with smooth, deliberate motions.
8. Delicately sprinkle flaky sea salt to enhance the caramel’s rich, complex flavor profile.
9. Crumble remaining dough atop the caramel layer, creating an artful, rustic pattern with intentional gaps revealing underlying layers.
10. Return the pan to the oven, baking an additional 15-20 minutes until the surface achieves a golden, enticing hue.
11. Remove from oven and allow complete cooling within the pan, permitting structural integrity to develop.
12. Utilize parchment edges to lift the entire creation, then slice into elegant, uniform squares ready for indulgence.

Notes

• Adjust the sweetness by reducing brown sugar for a less sweet version or using alternative sweeteners like coconut sugar for a more complex flavor profile.
• Ensure the caramel sauce is at room temperature to prevent uneven spreading and potential burning during baking.
• Create a gluten-free variation by substituting regular flour with almond flour or a certified gluten-free flour blend, maintaining the same measurements.
• Enhance the texture by slightly underbaking the bars, which keeps them wonderfully gooey and soft in the center while maintaining a golden exterior.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 16
• Calories: 292
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 37 mg