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Irresistible salted caramel brown sugar pop tart cookie bars dessert

Salted Caramel Brown Sugar Pop Tart Cookie Bars

Indulge in these sweet, salty, and gooey cookie bars that combine the flavors of brown sugar cinnamon Pop-Tarts with a rich salted caramel filling and a dreamy cinnamon glaze.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 12 bars
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 300
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Base Ingredients
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (room temperature) Do not melt in the microwave.
  • 1.5 cups packed light brown sugar
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
Filling and Topping
  • 1 cup store-bought or homemade salted caramel sauce Use a good quality sauce.
  • Sea salt flakes, for sprinkling To sprinkle on top.
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp whole milk or cream
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.5 tsp vanilla extract

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x13-inch pan with parchment, leaving a little overhang for easy lifting.
  2. In a large bowl, beat softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
  3. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Assembly
  1. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low until just combined.
  2. Press about two-thirds of the dough into the bottom of your pan in an even layer.
  3. Pour or spoon the salted caramel over the dough, leaving a tiny border around the edges.
  4. Crumble the remaining dough over the caramel in uneven chunks.
Baking
  1. Bake for 22-28 minutes, until the top is lightly golden and the edges are set.
  2. Sprinkle the top lightly with sea salt flakes as soon as it comes out of the oven.
  3. Let the bars cool completely in the pan.
Glaze and Serve
  1. In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and milk/cream until smooth and pourable.
  2. Drizzle glaze over cooled bars and let set for 10-15 minutes before slicing.

Notes

These cookie bars are best served cool for clean slices. They can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days.