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Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars

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These Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars taste just like a classic candy bar, but are homemade and so much more delicious!These Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars taste just like a classic candy bar, but are homemade and so much more delicious!

Three separate layers of delicious sweetness separates these shortbread bars from other shortbread recipes. Chocolate, caramel and a dense cookie-like shortbread crust creates the perfect combination for a satisfying holiday treat!

I told myself at the beginning of this extreme baking session that I like to call the “month of December,” that I would stay away from baking bars for the holidays completely. I’ve been told it is kind of a cop-out to make bars instead of cookies during the holiday season. There is literally no skill required. If you can turn on a mixer and pour dough into a pan then you are pretty much set. I swore. I swore to myself that I would avoid bars this year.

You see how perfectly that did NOT work out. I’ve already made the most amazing cinnamon bars about a month ago. I still have dreams about the overload of sugar that makes up about 50% of that entire recipe. And then there are these bars…these glorious, addicting, perfectly satisfying chocolate caramel shortbread bars.

These Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars taste just like a classic candy bar, but are homemade and so much more delicious!

I’m not sad that I took the easy way out. I’m not a self-proclaimed baking genius, but I do have quite the sweet tooth; and I do like to have a wide variety of baked goods in my house around the holidays. From sweet sugared cranberries to the perfect loaf of gingerbread, my pantry is a plethora of glorious sweet treats.

I have to say after much battling myself over not making desserts such as this, these chocolate caramel shortbread bars are here to stay. They are buttery and sugary and so perfect this Christmas season. Add them to your holiday baking menu and pour yourself a chocolate stout while you are at it!

These Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars taste just like a classic candy bar, but are homemade and so much more delicious!

These Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars taste just like a classic candy bar, but are homemade and so much more delicious!

Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars

Servings:

approximately 20 bars

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Prep Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients
  

Shortbread Layer

  • 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter softened to room temperature (3 sticks)
  • 3/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

Caramel Layer

  • 1 13.4- ounce can dulce de leche
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Chocolate Layer

  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • In the bowl of your stand mixer, with paddle attachment fixed, combine the butter and sugar. Beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 45 seconds. Mix in the vanilla extract. Mix again to combine. Beat in the salt and flour in 1/2 cup increments until a firm dough forms. Cover and chill the dough for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a 13x9 inch baking dish with foil. Place the dough in the prepared pan and press down with your finger tips until even. Bake the shortbread for 25 minutes or until light brown on top. Remove from heat and cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
  • Now prepare your caramel layer. Combine the dulce de leche and 1 tablespoon of butter in a small bowl. Place it in the microwave for 45 seconds to loosen up the caramel and stir. Pour the mixture on top of the cooled shortbread and spread evenly. Let cool slightly while you prepare your chocolate layer.
  • For the chocolate layer, bring the heavy cream, 1/2 cup of butter and corn syrup to a heavy simmer over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate chips and vanilla. Continue to stir until the chocolate has melted. Cool for about 5 minutes in the pan and then pour on top of the caramel layer. Spread to cover completely.
  • Cover the dish and place the chocolate caramel shortbread bars in the refrigerator until set, about 2 hours. Cut into bars and store in an airtight container for about a week. Enjoy!

These Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars taste just like a classic candy bar, but are homemade and so much more delicious!

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Justine

Justine

I’m the voice, author, creator, and photographer behind Cooking and Beer. We started things about 10 years ago and Cooking and Beer has morphed and grown into what it is today: providing hundreds of recipes to thousands of people.

9 Responses

  1. Bars are soooo not a cop out, especially if you have to make a lot of cookies! And these look wonderful. Love that thick layer of chocolate!

  2. Oh I LOVE bars and I don’t even care if they are because I’m lazy. Sometimes I’m just too tired to make cookies!

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Hello! I'm Justine.

I’m a blogger and web developer from the beautiful state of Oklahoma, where my loving husband, two adorable kids, and two mischievous dogs keep me on my toes 24/7. My idea of heaven includes endless summer days, getting lost in a good book, and whipping up some delicious homemade bread.

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