Description
Chocolate-packed 4-layer everything bars combine rich textures and intense flavors from classic dessert ingredients. Home bakers can craft this indulgent multilayered treat with simple pantry staples for a crowd-pleasing sweet experience.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 package (12 oz / 340 g) chocolate chip cookie dough
- 1 ¼ cups (250 g) white sugar
- 1 cup (170 g) semisweet chocolate chips
- 35 caramels, unwrapped
- 1 jar (7 oz / 198 g) marshmallow cream
- ⅓ cup (76 g) unsalted butter
- ½ cup (120 mL) evaporated milk
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) evaporated milk
- ¼ cup (60 mL) heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup (64 g) peanut butter
- ¾ cup (20 g) rice krispies cereal
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) water
Instructions
- Prepare Pan: Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×9-inch baking pan, ensuring even coating.
- Cookie Base: Press cookie dough uniformly across the pan bottom, creating a smooth, consistent foundation. Bake for 13-15 minutes until golden, then cool completely.
- Caramel Construction: In a saucepan, meld caramel ingredients over medium heat, stirring consistently until achieving a silky, homogeneous texture. Cascade the molten mixture over the cooled cookie crust and freeze for 10 minutes to solidify.
- Nougat Fusion: Combine butter, sugar, and milk in a clean saucepan, bringing to a vigorous boil while continuously stirring. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes without additional agitation. In a separate bowl, blend marshmallow cream and peanut butter until fully integrated. Incorporate the boiled mixture into the marshmallow-peanut butter combination, whisking until smooth and uniform. Pour over the chilled caramel layer and return to the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Chocolate Crispy Topping: Place chocolate chips in a heat-resistant bowl. Warm heavy cream in a small saucepan until near boiling, avoiding scorching. Pour hot cream over chocolate chips, stirring vigorously until achieving a glossy, melted consistency. Gently fold rice crispy cereal into the chocolate ganache, ensuring even distribution across the nougat layer.
- Final Set: Refrigerate the entire dessert for a minimum of two hours to completely set before slicing into decadent portions.
Notes
- Prep Strategically: Gather all ingredients beforehand to streamline the layering process and ensure smooth execution.
- Temperature Matters: Allow cookie dough and layers to cool completely between stages to prevent structural collapse and maintain distinct textures.
- Freeze for Finesse: Use brief freezing intervals to stabilize each layer, creating clean, professional-looking bars with crisp definition.
- Smooth Stirring Technique: Maintain consistent, gentle stirring during caramel and nougat preparation to prevent burning and achieve silky-smooth consistencies.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 17
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg