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Better Than Anything Bars Recipe

Better Than Anything Bars Recipe
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★★★★★

4.9 from 5 reviews

Better Than Anything Bars are a decadent, layered treat featuring a rich buttery cookie base, a luscious peanut butter caramel middle, and a gooey chocolate chip topping. These bars boast a perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors with a delightfully chewy texture that makes them irresistible for any dessert lover.

Ingredients

Scale

Bars:

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 2 medium eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups milk chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips

Caramel Sauce:

  • 14 caramels, unwrapped
  • 1/4 cup evaporated milk
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter

Instructions

  1. Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and generously spray a 9″x13″ baking pan with non-stick cooking spray to ensure easy removal of the bars after baking.
  2. Cream butter and sugars: In a mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and white sugar on medium-high speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and fully combined, creating the base for the dough.
  3. Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, thoroughly mixing after each addition. Then add the vanilla extract until the dough comes together cohesively.
  4. Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined to avoid overworking the dough.
  5. Fold in chocolate chips: Gently fold in the chocolate chips by hand or mixer. The dough will be thick and slightly sticky, perfect for forming the bars.
  6. Bake the first layer: Spread half of the dough evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 8-10 minutes until the edges are lightly golden and the layer is set.
  7. Prepare the caramel sauce: While the first layer is baking, melt the unwrapped caramels with evaporated milk in a microwave-safe bowl at power level 5, stirring every 30 seconds for 1-2 minutes until smooth.
  8. Add peanut butter to caramel: Stir peanut butter into the melted caramel until fully incorporated, creating a creamy and nutty caramel sauce.
  9. Assemble the bars: Remove the partially baked cookie layer from the oven, pour the caramel sauce evenly over it, then drop spoonfuls of the remaining dough on top to create a peekaboo effect of caramel and chocolate.
  10. Bake completed bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 17-20 minutes until the top dough is golden brown and the caramel is bubbling, with firm edges and a soft center.
  11. Cool and slice: Let the bars cool completely in the pan to allow the caramel to set properly. Once cool, cut into clean squares with a sharp knife for serving.

Notes

  • Use room temperature butter to ensure easy creaming with sugars.
  • For a richer chocolate flavor, use semi-sweet chocolate chips; milk chocolate yields a sweeter bar.
  • If you prefer a thicker caramel layer, reduce the peanut butter slightly or add more caramel candies.
  • Cooling the bars completely before slicing prevents messy cuts and helps layers set.
  • Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.

Nutrition

Keywords: Better Than Anything Bars, chocolate chip bars, caramel peanut butter bars, layered dessert bars, chewy cookie bars, easy dessert recipe

Find it online: https://frommamamaya.com/better-than-anything-bars-recipe/