Salted Caramel Bars (Print Version)

Ingredients:

01 - 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour.
02 - 1 tsp baking soda.
03 - ½ tsp salt.
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened.
05 - ¾ cup granulated sugar.
06 - ¾ cup packed brown sugar.
07 - 2 large eggs.
08 - 1 tsp vanilla extract.
09 - 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips.
10 - 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk.
11 - ½ cup packed brown sugar.
12 - ¼ cup unsalted butter.
13 - 2 tbsp corn syrup (optional).
14 - 1 tsp vanilla extract.
15 - ½ tsp sea salt (plus extra for sprinkling).

Instructions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in vanilla extract.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips.
06 - For the caramel filling, combine sweetened condensed milk, brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup (if using) in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly for 10-12 minutes until thickened and caramel-colored.
07 - Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract and sea salt. Let cool slightly.
08 - Press half of the cookie dough into the baking pan. Spread the caramel filling over the dough.
09 - Drop spoonfuls of remaining dough over the caramel, spreading it to cover most of the caramel layer.
10 - Bake for 25-30 minutes until the top is golden and edges are set.
11 - Remove from oven and sprinkle with extra sea salt. Let cool completely before slicing.

Notes:

01 - These bars combine the perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors.
02 - The caramel filling is gooey, while the cookie dough adds chewiness and richness.
03 - Optional corn syrup in the caramel makes it extra chewy.