Description
Better Than Anything Bars are rich, gooey, and irresistibly delicious dessert bars featuring a buttery, soft cookie base layered with gooey caramel and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Topped with a sprinkle of sea salt, these bars deliver a perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Add-ins & Toppings
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup caramel sauce
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon sea salt for topping
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make removal easy.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined; set this mixture aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, use a mixer to cream the softened unsalted butter with the brown sugar and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which usually takes several minutes and ensures a tender texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition to incorporate air and create a smooth batter. Stir in the vanilla extract for flavor.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet batter until fully blended without overmixing, to maintain a tender crumb.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips to distribute them evenly throughout the dough.
- Assemble Bars: Press half of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Drizzle the entire cup of caramel sauce over this bottom layer.
- Add Remaining Dough: Drop spoonfuls of the remaining dough on top of the caramel layer and gently spread it out to cover the caramel without disturbing it too much, creating a marbled effect.
- Bake: Bake the assembled bars in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares. Optionally, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon sea salt over the top to enhance the sweet and salty flavor contrast.
Notes
- Using parchment paper makes it easier to lift the bars out of the pan for cutting.
- Make sure the butter is softened for easy creaming and a smooth batter.
- Do not overmix once you add the flour to ensure a tender texture.
- Cool bars fully before cutting to prevent them from falling apart.
- For a deeper caramel flavor, use homemade caramel sauce if desired.
