June Bakin' Friends

Sorry for the delay, I would have posted earlier but I had to go to WORK!!!  The horror - I don't usually work on Fridays!  But the good news is I took some great pictures of what my June Bakin' Friend, Zainab Mansaray (aka Blahnik Baker) sent me containing the June secret ingredient, CARAMEL!

Zainab and I corresponded a bit earlier this month and I found out she and I have more than the love of baking in common - we love designer shoes!  Hence her blog name, Blahnik Baker.  I am lusting after some Christian Louboutins and if I ever get a pair, I will never take them off!

Zainab sent me the most yummy bars incorporating my most favorite flavors, chocolate and caramel.  We agreed they should be a separate food group :)

Chocolate Chip Salted Caramel Cookie Bars

I fell in love with these bars.  They are very similar to a chocolate chip cookie (but thicker) and have a generous ribbon of caramel running through them.  To die for.  Teeth screamers!
  

Take a closer look.  Don't you just want to take a big bite out of that one on top???  And look at the bar on the bottom left.  It's crammed with caramel and chocolate chips!

I've posted the recipe below.  These bars are insane!  MAKE THEM PEOPLE!!!  I actually still have some in my freezer - and I hear them calling me.  I'd better go eat one!

Zainab, thank you so much for these incredible bars!

Chocolate Chip Salted Caramel Cookie Bars

(Adapted from Two Peas and Their Pod)

2 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
12 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled to room temperature
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups chocolate chips
6 ounces caramel candy squares, unwrapped
3 tablespoons heavy cream
Sea salt, for sprinkling over caramel and bars

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 8 X 8 baking pan with parchment paper (or foil) leaving overhang. Spray with nonstick cooking spray.

2. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda.

3. In the bowl of your stand mixer (or medium bowl), beat the melted butter and sugars together until combined. Add in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract and mix until smooth. Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix on low, just until combined about 1 minute. Then stir in the chocolate chips.

4. Combine the caramels and heavy cream in a medium microwave safe bowl and melt in a microwave. Stir every 30 seconds until caramels are melted. This will take about 2 minutes, depending on your microwave.

5. Add half of the cookie dough to the prepared pan. Press gently and smooth the top with a spatula. Drizzle/pour the hot caramel sauce over the cookie dough and sprinkle with sea salt. Using a small cookie scoop or a tablespoon, drop spoonfuls of cookie dough over the caramel. Spread the dough with a spatula until the caramel is covered. Sprinkle again with sea salt.

6. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top of the bars are light golden brown and the edges start to pull away from the pan. Cool bars on a wire rack to room temperature. Cut into squares and serve.

Bakin' Friends will be celebrating our 1st anniversary next month and I can't wait to see what the secret ingredient will be.  If you would like to join our group, please go to http://www.stephsbitebybite.com/bakin-friends/ for more information and to sign up.  It's like being in the Dessert-of-the-Month Club!