Around the beginning of November people begin to ask, “What desserts will you be making this year? Are you making cookies and candy?” Family members and friends are quick to give me hints of their selections, but sometimes I want to make an easy recipe, one that doesn’t take a lot of time in the kitchen and tastes great. This is one of those recipes a novice cook can prepare, even my daughter and her best friend, who once managed to catch the oven on fire when attempting to bake cupcakes. If you need a gluten free version, use refrigerated gluten free cookie dough as the base instead of regular. We’ve have purchased both Pillsbury Gluten Free Cookie Dough and Immaculate Gluten Free Cookie Dough before and they both work well.
Before you begin, grease (or line with parchment or wax paper) a 9″ by 13″ inch casserole dish and preheat the oven to 350. I prefer toasted nuts on my bars, so I quickly saute my chopped pecans in a tablespoon of butter for three minutes. Press the cookie dough into the bottom of the casserole dish, covering the entire dish evenly with dough. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until done. I like my bars to be soft so I bake the dough for 8 minutes.
While dough is baking, cut three chocolate bars into squares. As soon as the dough is removed from the oven, place the chocolate squares evenly across the dough. This will melt quickly. Spread the chocolate across the dough.
Quickly top with caramel bits and sauteed pecans. Allow the bars to cool completely. When the bars are cooled, cut into squares.
- 1 package (12 ounce) refrigerated cookie dough
- 3 (1.8 ounce) chocolate bars, broken into pieces
- 1 cup caramel bits or chopped caramel candies
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Briefly saute pecans in 1 tablespoon butter. (about 1 to minutes) Grease a 9″by 13″ casserole dish or line with wax paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread cookie dough evenly across the pan. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Break chocolate into pieces. Add to hot cookies immediately after removing from oven. Top with caramel bits and pecans. Allow to cool completely and cut into squares.
What is your favorite easy Christmas recipe?
So far I haven’t had any guests with a need for GF but it’s always great to have recipes on hand just in case!
This is such a great recipe. I like it because it is easier with the pre-made chocolate bars.
I kinda wish I had a plate of those right now. I’m all about anything with caramel in it. Haha!
I love that these are so easy to make! My daughter is coming u this weekend and I think I will make them for her.
Caramel and chocolate are my favorites- I can’t wait to try these bars!
You just said my 3 favorite C’s: Chocolate, Caramel and cookie! These sounds delicious and great for the holidays
Too yummy for words! You make it look so easy! Better start baking! My family thanks you!
I love having a gluten free cookie option! I will have to try these out on my husband.
These Easy Chocolate Caramel Cookie Bars look so yummy! I must call grandma, she’s the baker! Great post for cookie monsters, LOL!
These look quite easy to make. And not a lot of extra ingredients. Super for holiday gift-giving.
Hey now! You totally had me at chocolate and caramel. These look easy enough for me to make with the kids! Thanks
You are seriously making me hungry. This looks like something my family would enjoy.
OH my gosh, they look so oohey gooey rich. I can dig it. 🙂
The combination of caramel and pecans is so delicious. These cookie bars look like the make a nice sweet treat.
YUM! This looks great. I need to take a dessert to work soon. This would be perfect.
What a wonderful idea for a holiday treat! And the fact that it’s gluten free is awesome!
Oh these look so good! I love anything with chocolate and caramel! I’m definitely adding this to my baking list.
Caramel and chocolate looks so yummy! These look really good.
I love caramel. This recipe looks right up my alley and easy to make too!
Ooh I bet the pecans gives a nice crunch to these yummy cookies. I haven’t baked any sweets in so long!
These look super yummy! I have a friend that is GF, I’ll have to make these for her!
I like making fun stuff like that at Christmas time. That would be a great project for kids.
Making them with the kids would definitely be fun! That was always one of my favorite things about the holidays.
Cookie bars! Yum, these sound great.
These look so yummy… almost like TWIX!!! I will have to add these to my cookie recipes!
Looks super easy to make and they look great! Bet the kids would just enough these!
This recipe looks so delicious and easy to make. I like to make shortbread cookies on the holidays.
I am always looking for new gluten free recipes to try. I will have to make this on the weekend with my kids.
I love every little bit about this. I don’t often make cookie bars, but I’m missing out! These need to happen.
Oh my these look so good. I love a good cookie bar. Plus add chocolate and i’m so all over it.
Oh now these look delicious. I would love to make these but I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to stick to my “moderation” with these. They look incredible.
I will have to try these, they look so good. Glad to know there is a gluten-free option, too.
Thanks for sharing this easy to make chocolate caramel cookie bars. It would be a great snack to have with you at all times, to keep your energy level up! Yummy and nutritious!
I’m happy that Pillsbury now makes gluten free dough. These look so yummy and I’ll definitely be using the gluten-free version when I make it
Chocolate and caramel is a yummy combination. These sound so scrumptious!
The fact that it is gluten free would make a great snack for a potluck with a group of friends and as active as I am there are a few potlucks where I have to make snacks this year. Easy chocolate caramel cookie bars now were talking and the fact that it is gluten free too would win me brownie points.
Caramel bits are a thing?! I need some of this and this is delish!
This chocolate caramel cookie bar looks yummy and delicious, Perfect to share with the whole family. Thanks for sharing your recipe, I’m going to make this too.
Yum! Yum! These look so good! I think they would make a great addition to any holiday dessert table!
These look absolutely delicious. What a great gift or Christmas party idea.
You totally had me at chocolate caramel these sound absolutely delicious. x
Wow, these sound really good right now. I’d love to have some of these as a gluten-free dessert.
I can eat gluten but it’s good to know that there is a gluten free option for those who can’t.
These look so yummy. I love that you included a gluten free option.
I love that these are really that simple to make. They’d make a great snack for the kids afterschool!
These look absolutely fabulous! I love that I can make a gluten-free version too. My poor gluten-intolerant kiddo misses out on lots of yummy treats at get-togethers! This is perfect for him!
This looks scrumptious! I want to try these out for our family holiday party.
I have a friend eating gluten free. Going to share this with her!
Those look delicious. I love how easy they are to make, too. I’ll be whipping these up this weekend.
Oh man, the cookie bars look soooo good. I love that this is so eaay to make.
Oh yum! I love that there is a gluten free option, too!
I need to show this recipe to my grandkids. They are always wanting a sweet treat and this looks like they can make this themselves… They are in their 20s so if they can’t… there’s a problem.
LOL Terry! I agree with ya there. I love how easy it is to make, too!