Description
Better Than Anything Bars are a deliciously rich and gooey dessert bar featuring a buttery cookie base loaded with chocolate chips, topped with a luscious caramel and peanut butter glaze. These bars are easy to make and perfect for satisfying any sweet tooth with their soft, chewy texture and indulgent flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 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 or semi-sweet chocolate chips
Caramel Topping
- 14 ounces caramels, unwrapped
- 5 ounces canned evaporated milk
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish to prevent sticking and allow easy removal of the bars.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, ensuring even sweetness throughout the bars.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time to fully incorporate them, then stir in the vanilla extract to add a rich, aromatic flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually mix these dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined to maintain tenderness.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips, distributing them evenly without overmixing the batter.
- Bake the Base: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared 9×13 inch baking dish and bake for about 20 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out with moist crumbs.
- Melt Caramel Topping: While the bars bake, melt the unwrapped caramels with evaporated milk over low heat, stirring frequently until smooth and creamy; then stir in the peanut butter until fully blended.
- Pour Caramel Over Bars: Once the bars are finished baking, immediately pour the caramel and peanut butter mixture evenly over the hot bars. Allow them to cool completely so the topping firms up before cutting into squares.
Notes
- Be sure to use softened butter for easier creaming and better texture.
- You can substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips with milk chocolate for a sweeter flavor or dark chocolate for a richer taste.
- For easier cutting, refrigerate the bars after cooling to firm up the caramel topping.
- Storage: Keep bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- These bars freeze well; wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months.
