Indulge in Sweet Decadence: Better Than Anything Bars Recipe
If you’re looking for a dessert that combines all your favorite indulgent flavors into one irresistible treat, look no further than Better Than Anything Bars. These bars are a perfect blend of gooey caramel, creamy peanut butter, and rich chocolate, all sandwiched between a golden cookie dough crust. They’re an ideal choice for everything from after-school snacks to date night desserts or even during a family game night. These bars are aptly named because, once you take a bite, you’ll be hooked for good!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
For the 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
For the Caramel Sauce:
- 14 ounces of caramels, unwrapped (or 14 ounces of caramel bits)
- 5 ounces canned evaporated milk (note: do not use the whole can if it’s larger than 5 ounces)
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
Instructions
- Prepare the Cookie Dough Base: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9″x13″ baking pan with cooking spray to ensure the bars come out easily. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until light and fluffy. This should take about 2-3 minutes of mixing.
- Add the Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until just blended. Then, stir in the vanilla extract until combined.
- Combine the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. The dough will be thick but manageable.
- Mix in the Chocolate Chips: Fold the chocolate chips into the dough. You can use a mixer on low speed, but it’s best to finish mixing by hand to avoid overworking the dough.
- Bake the First Layer: Scoop half of the cookie dough into the prepared baking pan. Spread it evenly in the bottom of the pan to create a smooth layer. Bake this first layer for 8-10 minutes, or until it is lightly golden but not fully set.
- Make the Caramel Sauce: While the dough bakes, prepare the caramel sauce. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the caramels and evaporated milk. Heat the mixture in the microwave on power level 5 (medium heat) for 1-2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds to ensure it melts evenly. If necessary, continue microwaving in 30-second increments until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
- Add Peanut Butter to the Caramel: Once the caramel and milk are well combined, stir in the peanut butter. Mix until the peanut butter is fully incorporated and the sauce is smooth.
- Assemble the Bars: Once the first layer of cookie dough has baked and slightly cooled, spread the warm caramel mixture evenly over it. Drop spoonfuls of the remaining cookie dough over the caramel layer. Don’t worry if it doesn’t completely cover the caramel; the dough will spread as it bakes.
- Finish Baking: Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 17-20 minutes, or until the remaining dough is golden brown and cooked through. The bars should look set and slightly firm to the touch.
- Cool and Serve: Let the bars cool in the pan on a wire rack. Once cool, slice them into squares and serve. These bars are rich, so smaller pieces are ideal for sharing!
Notes
- Don’t Overmix the Dough: When adding the eggs to the dough, mix just until they’re incorporated. Overmixing can introduce air into the dough, causing the bars to bake unevenly or become too puffy.
- Customize with Different Chips: Feel free to experiment with different kinds of chocolate chips (dark chocolate, white chocolate, or even peanut butter chips) to give the bars a personalized twist.
- Perfecting the Caramel Sauce: If you find the caramel sauce too thick, you can add a little extra evaporated milk to thin it out. Just be sure it’s still thick enough to coat the dough without running off.
- Add More Toppings: If you’re feeling extra indulgent, sprinkle some chopped nuts, like pecans or walnuts, over the caramel before baking for added texture and flavor.