Caramel Snickerdoodle Bars are seriously addicting! All the things you love about snickerdoodles plus soft caramel in the middle!
Guys, I’m going to change my addicting ways and fill up on all the non-sugary things… just as soon as these Caramel Snickerdoodle Bars have left my house. I keep trying to convince my husband that it’s better for my thunder thigh situation if we just throw out the extras but he insists on keeping them because “they’re sooo good!” and “the caramel is so soft” and “I don’t even have to microwave them for me to like them“.
Those are literal sentences that came out of his mouth.
So, he really liked them. And actually so did I. Immensely.
Soft caramel + soft cookie bars + cinnamon + sugar = heaven.
Honestly, this is what all my weird pregnancy dreams are made of.
This and Josh Groban.
Another story for another time.
In the mean time, these are RIDICULOUS and SIMPLE and DELICIOUS!!!! Like forreals. Go make them immediately.
Start out with a homemade snickerdoodle cookie dough {my recipe is below!} Then lightly grease the bottom of a 9×13 pan and coat the bottom with some cinnamon and sugar. Spread 2/3 of the cookie dough overtop the sugary coating and press out flat and up the sides about an inch. Sprinkle with more cinnamon sugar.
Then add on your melty caramel!! This mixture is just those kraft caramels melted down with a little heavy cream.
You guys, I would DIE on Whole30.
Spread the caramel out overtop of the cookie dough with a knife or the back of a spoon. I know it looks like a lot, but I assure you it’s only a skinny layer.
Flatten out the remaining cookie dough in little chunks in between your hands and lay out over the top of the caramel. You don’t have to cover all the caramel, but definitely try to cover the majority. Sprinkle with more cinnamon and sugar 🙂
Once baked, everything will be puffed and a little bit larger than before. All totally normal! Let everything simmer down and cool, then cut into bars! At room temperature, the caramel and cookie bars will be soft and barely barely runny. Warm bars fresh out of the oven means hot caramel lava. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, buuuuut don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Do you see what I mean about the room temperature caramel? It’s at a sweet spot…right where you want it!
Totally sweet and delicious 🙂
Everyone will beg you for this Caramel Snickerdoodle Bars recipe. These are perfect treats to bring to holiday parties or Christmas cookie exchanges! Honestly, they’ll be the talk of the town.
Printable recipe below. Have a great day, friends!!
Snickerdoodle Caramel Bars
Caramel Snickerdoodle Bars are seriously addicting! All the things you love about snickerdoodles plus soft caramel in the middle!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup softened butter
- 1/2 cup butter flavored shortening
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3 cups all purpose flour minus 2 tablespoons
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
cinnamon sugar topping:
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
caramel filling:
- 13 oz. package caramels unwrapped
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
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In a large bowl, cream butter, shortening and sugar. Stir in eggs and vanilla. Add in all dry ingredients and stir until just incorporated. Scrape edges and mix again briefly.
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In a small bowl, stir sugar and cinnamon together.
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Lightly spray 9x13 glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Pour half the cinnamon sugar mixture into the baking dish and spread around to coat the bottom.
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Take 2/3 of the cookie dough and press into the bottom of the pan and up the sides about 1 inch. Sprinkle the top of the cookie dough with 1 tablespoon of the remaining cinnamon sugar.
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In a medium size bowl, add caramels and cream. Microwave for 20 second intervals, stirring in between each until completely melted and smooth.
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Pour caramel over cookie dough and spread to smooth. Take small pieces of remaining cookie dough, flatten slightly in between your hands and place overtop the caramel until no more cookie dough remains. Sprinkle the cookie dough on top of the caramel with the last of the cinnamon and sugar.
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Bake for 25 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
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Cool completely before cutting into bars.
stefanie @ sarcastic cooking says
October 21, 2015 at 4:24 amOh man. As a fellow preggo, I appreciate this recipe. Also, the dreams I have had this pregnancy have been the weirdest ever!!! I also have predicted two pregnancies through dreams!!! Insane.
Melissa Lemire says
October 21, 2015 at 4:48 amI love Caramel . Thank you for guide.
Lynn says
October 21, 2015 at 8:05 amOh heavenly snicker doodle+caramel. Come to grandma!! I could bake dozens of batches and never eat anything else! Lauren, you’ve nailed a perfect combo! Even my 6’1″, 172lb marathon son couldn’t stop eating these!! “Mom, do NOT bring a full plate of these again”. That’s ok son, more for me!!
Michele {Delish Dishes} says
October 21, 2015 at 8:29 amHOLY YUM! Get in my belly ASAP!
Marilyn Brennan says
October 21, 2015 at 8:44 amYou’re up to your best! Marvelous story too.
Kate says
October 21, 2015 at 12:45 pmI am on board! These sound amazing….
Whitni @ A Cookie & A Kiss says
October 21, 2015 at 3:21 pmThis looks absolutely scrumptious! Caramel is ma fav.
Heidi says
October 21, 2015 at 5:24 pmThese look amazing! LOVE LOVE LOVE Josh Groban. Saw him in concert last year. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!
Becki says
October 22, 2015 at 5:06 amOh my goodness – these look ridiculously delicious! Two of my favorite things – good caramel and snickerdoodles. Definitely pinning and going on my list of stuff to make soon!
Sally says
October 22, 2015 at 1:36 pmWhat to do with all that Halloween candy? My mom used to let us have some and at night she would glean stuff to put in our Christmas stockings! Way to go Mom, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle back in the 50’s!
Senika @ Foodie Blog Stalker says
October 23, 2015 at 9:52 amI did my first Whole30 in August (documented it all on my blog) and, I’m not gonna lie, it.was.HARD. My husband (jokingly) says, “You lose weight because you lose your will to live.” 🙂 Ok, it’s not THAT bad but it is definitely difficult. BUT I’m already thinking about doing it again – gah! I’ve never felt better (after the first 15 days), had so much energy and actually had the urge to exercise. First I need to make these cookies though! Priorities 🙂
Jewel cooke says
November 2, 2015 at 5:52 pmWondering if I can use my own homemade caramel sauce instead of the pre-packaged ones that you get at the store?
Monica says
January 9, 2016 at 3:16 pmThese are easy to make and extremely delicious. I get rave reviews and recipe requests each time I make them. Thank you!
Suzanne Justesen says
July 30, 2016 at 10:11 amSImple to make and everyone loved them! Heated them in the micro and topped with vanilla ice cream. So good. Stored them in a ziplock and they were even better the next day. Caramel stays soft!
Laura says
December 19, 2016 at 5:47 amI’ve made these bars several times with lots of rave reviews! Everyone loves them! Rightfully so since they’re delicious!
Heather Bee says
June 13, 2017 at 12:22 pmLauren, I’ve made these bars so many times I’ve lost count and I always get asked for the recipe! They turn out perfectly each time and that gooey caramel layer… wow! I didn’t think snickerdoodles could get any better, but you’ve proved me wrong.
Nikki says
September 17, 2018 at 7:57 amThese look delicious! I’m going to make them for my daughter who looooves caramel!