Caramel Chocolate Bars

Caramel Chocolate Bars are loaded with layers of flaky, homemade crust, caramel, and chocolate. Every bite explodes with the rich flavors of chocolate and caramel and rich, buttery crust.

four chocolate caramel bars on a plate.

Chocolate and caramel is a classic combination that everyone seems to love, and we love to use it at any opportunity. These caramel chocolate bars are a particular favorite of ours because the final product looks so fancy, but it’s actually incredibly easy to make. So we look like baking super heroes, when really, it was a relatively simple process. You have to love that!

slice of chocolate caramel bar on a plate.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • It uses simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.
  • It’s a fancy-looking recipe that’s actually very easy to make.
  • It’s loaded with rich caramel, chocolate, and flaky crust layers.

🛒Ingredients

butter, eggs, and bowls of brown sugar, flour, water, cornstarch, and salt on a counter.

You’ll only need a few basic ingredients to make these bars, and practically every ingredient is probably in your kitchen right now. If you do happen to need anything, you’ll find it in just a few minutes at your local grocery store.

All the ingredients you need to make these bars are listed here, but you can find their exact amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.

For the Crust

  • Flour
  • Brown sugar
  • Cornstarch
  • Salt
  • Butter – chilled
  • Cold water
  • Egg yolks
bowls of butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, and condensed milk on counter.

Caramel

  • Sweetened condensed milk
  • Brown sugar
  • Butter
  • Corn syrup
  • Vanilla
bowls of semi-sweet chocolate chips, flaky sea salt, and heavy cream on a counter.

For the Chocolate

  • Semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • Heavy cream
  • Flaky sea salt

🔪 How to Make Caramel Chocolate Bars

Just looking at these bars, you might think they’re difficult to make, but they really aren’t. Even though every part of these bars is homemade, the entire recipe is made using simple steps that even beginners can follow.

Step 1: Prep

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line an edged 12×17 baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: Make the Crust Dough

Combine the flour, brown sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium bowl. Then, using a pastry cutter or 2 knives, cut the chilled butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add the cold water and egg yolks and mix until the dough begins to form a ball.

crust being pressed into a parchment lined baking dish.

Step 3: Bake the Crust

Press the dough firmly into an even layer across the bottom of the baking sheet. Then, prick it all over with a fork and bake for 20 to 22 minutes until golden brown. Remove it from the oven and let it cool completely.

Step 4: Make the Caramel

Add the milk, sugar, butter, corn syrup, and vanilla to a small saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar has fully dissolved and the butter has melted. It should take about 8 minutes, and the caramel should have thickened.

caramel layer being spread on top of cooled crust.

Step 5: Pour and Cool

Pour the caramel over the cooled crust and let it cool completely.

Step 6: Cut

Using a spatula, cut the entire pan in half across the middle and stack the layers on top of one another.

Step 7: Make the Chocolate

Add the chocolate chips and heavy cream to a microwave-safe bowl and heat at 10 to 15-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.

chocolate being spread on top of a caramel layer.

Step 8: Pour and Cool

Pour the chocolate over the caramel crust layers and spread evenly. let the chocolate cool and sprinkle with salt. Cut into bars and enjoy!

📝Variations

  • Use semi-sweet, milk, or dark chocolate to change the flavor of the bars.
  • You can melt caramel squares if you prefer.
  • For a fully sweet version, omit the sea salt.

If this combination of chocolate and caramel already has you hungry, then you’ll love these salted caramel chocolate bars.

🥄 Equipment

  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • 12×17 rimmed baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Spatula
  • Mixing bowl
  • Microwave-safe bowl

🥫 Storage

Store these bars in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. For longer storage, refrigerate them in an air-tight container for up to a week.

square of chocolate caramel bar on a plate.

Serve With

These delicious bars are perfect with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee or tea. They’re also lovely when paired with fresh fruit and/or caramel and chocolate pieces.

💭 Tips

  • Cube your butter and keep it in the refrigerator so it’s as cold as possible when you’re ready to cut it into the flour mixture.
  • Stir constantly while making your caramel, and keep the heat low to avoid scorching it.
  • 15 seconds is the maximum time you should microwave your chocolate and heavy cream mixture to avoid burning.

⁉️ FAQ

Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.

What are caramel chocolate bars?

These caramel chocolate bars are dessert bars made with layers of homemade pie crust and caramel topped with homemade chocolate sauce.

What’s the secret to making good caramel?

Temperature! Keep your heat low to avoid scorching. Everything should melt and thicken slowly so the flavors meld, and you have zero chance of creating a burned flavor.

I kept the heat low, but my caramel burned. What happened?

It’s important to stir your caramel mixture constantly while cooking it to avoid scorching.

Why did my chocolate burn in the microwave while melting it?

If you microwave your chocolate and cream for intervals longer that 10 to 15 seconds, there’s a good chance that it could scorch.

🍽 More Recipes

Do you enjoy dessert bars? Then try these delicious recipes:

🧾Recipe Card

Want to make this recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin this recipe, so you can find it later.

four chocolate caramel bars on a plate.

Caramel Chocolate Bars

Caramel chocolate bars feature layers of homemade crust, caramel, and chocolate. They're a rich, decadent treat for any occasion.
No ratings yet
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 20 Bars
Calories: 320kcal

Equipment

  • mixing bowls
  • Pastry cutter
  • parchment paper
  • 12×17 baking sheet
  • medium saucepan
  • microwave-safe

Ingredients

Ingredients for crust layers:

  • 2 cups flour
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 4 teaspoon cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup butter chilled
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • 2 egg yolks

Ingredients for caramel layers:

  • 28 ounces sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ¾ cup butter
  • 4 tablespoons corn syrup
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla

Ingredients for chocolate layer:

  • 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • Flaky sea salt

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • In a medium sized bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cornstarch and salt.
  • Using a pastry cutter, or 2 knives, cut in the chilled butter until you have coarse crumbs.
  • Add in the cold water and egg yolks and mix until it starts to form a ball.
  • You may need to add a bit more water if necessary for the dough to come together.
  • Using a piece of parchment paper, line a 12” x 17” baking sheet with sides.
  • Press the dough firmly into an even layer covering the bottom of the pan.
  • The dough does not need to go up the sides, just the bottom. Using a fork, poke holes randomly across the bottom to allow the crust to vent.
  • Place in the oven and bake for 20-22 minutes, until golden brown.
  • Remove and allow to cool completely.
  • In a medium sized saucepan, place the milk, sugar, butter, corn syrup and vanilla over low/medium heat, stirring constantly.
  • Cook until the sugar has fully dissolved and the butter has melted.
  • The caramel will start to thicken in about 8 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and pour over the cooled crust, creating an even layer.
  • Allow to cool.
  • Once it has fully cooled, cut the entire pan in half in the middle and using a large spatula, stack the 2 layers on top of each other.
  • Using a microwave safe bowl, place the chocolate chips and heavy cream in the microwave and heat in short bursts (10/15 seconds).
  • Stir each time you stop it until the chocolate has completely melted and is smooth.
  • Pour over the top of the caramel and spread in an even layer.
  • Let cool before sprinkling with salt so the chocolate doesn’t absorb it.
  • Once cooled, slice into bars of desired size.

Notes

Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Bar | Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 140mg | Potassium: 240mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 47g | Vitamin A: 200IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 163mg | Iron: 1mg

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating