Some things are just meant to be. And with Better Together Bars, we are sure glad these good things came together! A crispy cookie crust topped with layers of amazing homemade caramel (you’ve got this!) and melted milk chocolate firm up to be the best combination, and we will argue with anyone (just kidding) who says otherwise! Oh, you can’t forget the crispiness the pecans bring either. Mm-mm. Better Together Bars are a serene way to enjoy all the candy-bar-like tastes that the others debate about (right, wrong, just eat it, haha). Bar-none, these are the best!
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened and sliced into 7 pieces
- 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the caramel:
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the chocolate topping:
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 2 teaspoons sweetened condensed milk
- pecan halves, optional, to taste
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Line a 9x3x5-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving 3-inch ends exposed on 2 sides.
Step 3 –In a medium bowl, add 7 tablespoons of the butter slices, the confectioners’ sugar, the flour, and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and use a large fork to work it together until it is evenly combined and it looks like sandy sugar cookie dough.
Step 4 –Evenly press the dough as flat as possible into the prepared baking dish.
Step 5 –Bake the dough until it is golden-brown around the top and edges and is very fragrant, about 25 minutes.
Step 6 –Transfer the baking dish to a wire rack and let the crust cool completely.
Step 7 –In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the remaining butter, the brown sugar, 1/3 cup of the condensed milk, the honey, and the remaining salt and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook at a boil, about 5 minutes.
Step 8 –Transfer the saucepan from the heat and stir the caramel mixture until it is thickened, about 3 minutes.
Step 9 –Add the vanilla extract to the caramel mixture and stir to combine.
Step 10 –Immediately pour the caramel mixture over the cooled crust.
Step 11 –Place the baking dish in the refrigerator and let the caramel-covered crust chill until it is completely set.
Step 12 –Set the microwave to 50% power.
Step 13 –In a medium microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate and the remaining condensed milk and microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring after each, until the chocolate is almost melted.
Step 14 –Stir the chocolate mixture until it has melted and is smooth.
Step 15 –Pour the melted chocolate over the chilled caramel-covered crust and spread it out until it is smooth.
Step 16 –Sprinkle the chocolate layer with the pecans.
Step 17 –Transfer the baking dish to the refrigerator and let the bars chill until they have set, about 2 hours.
Step 18 –Use the parchment paper handles to transfer the bars from the pan, then discard the paper.
Step 19 –Cut the bars into squares and serve.
