SALTED CARAMEL COOKIE BARS

INGREDIENTS:

Bars:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 cup white sugar

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 1 TBSP vanilla extract

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 tsp coarse sea salt

Caramel:

• 1 11oz bag of caramel bits

• 1/3 cup heavy cream

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F

2. Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper, spray with baking spray

3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together room temperature butter, sugar, and powdered sugar

4. Add sour cream and vanilla and mix until combined. Mix in the flour until just combined on low until it forms a soft dough

5. Press half of the dough in the bottom of the pan and place the other half in the refrigerator

6. Bake crust in preheated oven for 15 minutes

7. Melt caramels, heavy cream, and 1/2 tsp vanilla over medium-low heat until smooth

8. Pour caramel evenly over the hot crust. Lightly sprinkle about 1 tsp of coarse sea salt over the caramel

9. Take remaining dough out of the fridge and crumble over top of the caramel. Return to oven and bake for 30 minutes until top is starting to get golden brown

10. Add remaining sea salt after caramel bars come out of the oven

11. Let cool completely before cutting into small squares