If you have a serious sweet tooth craving and love the delightful combination of crunchy, chewy, and creamy textures, this Twix Cookie Bars Recipe is going to become your new favorite treat. Imagine a buttery shortbread base topped with luscious homemade caramel and a luscious milk chocolate layer that melts in your mouth with every bite. It’s like enjoying your favorite candy bar but in a homemade, shareable dessert form that’s perfect for any occasion or just a cozy night in.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients are straightforward but bring together each layer’s charm perfectly—from the tender shortbread crust to the gooey caramel and silky chocolate topping.
- 1 cup salted butter (room temperature): Adds richness to the shortbread crust and helps give it that tender crumb.
- 1 cup powdered sugar: Sweetens the cookie base and ensures it’s soft rather than gritty.
- 2 cups all-purpose flour: The foundation for your shortbread, it creates structure and balance.
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract: Brings warmth and enhances the buttery flavors throughout.
- 6 tablespoons salted butter (for caramel): Essential for creating that smooth, buttery caramel layer.
- ½ cup light corn syrup: Keeps the caramel glossy and prevents crystallization for that perfect chewy texture.
- 1 cup granulated sugar: Provides sweetness and makes the caramel rich and thick.
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream (divided): Adds creaminess to both the caramel and chocolate topping.
- 1¼ cups milk or dark chocolate: Melts into a decadent topping that seals all the layers together.
How to Make Twix Cookie Bars Recipe
Step 1: Prepare and Bake the Shortbread Base
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and greasing a 9×13 inch pan—this is essential to keep your bars from sticking. Then cream together the room temperature salted butter and powdered sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This creates a wonderful base that’s tender but still holds up well. Gradually mix in the flour and vanilla extract to form your shortbread dough. Press this evenly into your pan and bake for about 15-20 minutes until the edges are just starting to turn golden—this ensures a crisp but delicate crust underneath your caramel layer.
Step 2: Make the Caramel Layer
While your shortbread is baking, prepare the caramel. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt together the salted butter, light corn syrup, and granulated sugar. Stir continuously as everything melts and combines into a rich amber color. Once melted, stir in half of the heavy whipping cream and keep stirring until the mixture thickens slightly. This step is key to achieving that luscious, creamy caramel texture that will set beautifully on the shortbread. Remove from heat and add the vanilla extract to deepen the flavor.
Step 3: Assemble the Layers
Once the shortbread has cooled slightly, pour the caramel filling evenly over the base. Allow the bars to sit at room temperature for a bit before placing them in the refrigerator for about an hour. Chilling helps set the caramel layer so it won’t melt into the chocolate topping.
Step 4: Create the Chocolate Topping
Next, melt the chocolate with the remaining heavy whipping cream until smooth and velvety. This not only smooths the chocolate but also gives it a wonderful ganache-like texture. Pour this over the chilled caramel layer, spreading gently to cover the entire surface evenly. Refrigerate the bars again until the chocolate is fully set, which seals all your delicious layers together perfectly.
Step 5: Cut and Serve
Once fully chilled and set, slice the dessert into squares. Depending on your mood, cut them small for bite-sized treats or larger for a decadent dessert portion. Your Twix Cookie Bars Recipe is now ready to delight your taste buds!
How to Serve Twix Cookie Bars Recipe
Garnishes
To elevate your Twix Cookie Bars Recipe even more, consider sprinkling sea salt flakes on top of the chocolate layer right after pouring it. This contrast of sweet and salty will make each bite unforgettable. You could also drizzle a little extra caramel or melt some white chocolate for a pretty finishing touch that looks as amazing as it tastes.
Side Dishes
These bars are quite rich, so pairing them with something light balances the experience beautifully. Serve slices alongside fresh berries or a tangy fruit salad to cut through the sweetness. For a truly indulgent treat, a scoop of vanilla ice cream or dollop of whipped cream complements the gooey layers perfectly.
Creative Ways to Present
If you’re bringing these bars to a party, try arranging them on a rustic wooden board with a few whole Twix bars or cookie crumbs for a fun thematic display. Wrapping individual squares in parchment squares tied with twine also makes adorable gift-ready treats that friends will rave about.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover Twix Cookie Bars Recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This keeps the chocolate from melting and the caramel nice and chewy. They should stay fresh for up to 5 days, though something this delicious usually disappears fast!
Freezing
You can freeze the bars to enjoy later by wrapping each individual square tightly in plastic wrap, then placing them in a sealed freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. When ready, thaw in the refrigerator overnight to keep the texture just right.
Reheating
While these cookie bars are best enjoyed chilled, if you prefer a softer, slightly melty texture, warm a bar in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Be careful not to overheat or the caramel might get too soft and sticky.
FAQs
Can I use dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate?
Absolutely! Dark chocolate adds a rich, slightly bitter contrast to the sweet caramel and buttery base, which many people love. Just choose a quality chocolate you enjoy eating on its own.
Is it necessary to use corn syrup in the caramel?
Corn syrup helps prevent the caramel from crystallizing, ensuring a smooth texture. If you don’t have it, you can substitute with golden syrup or honey, but the texture might be slightly different.
Can I make this gluten-free?
Yes, you can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend but make sure it contains xanthan gum for structure. The texture might vary slightly but will still be delicious.
How thick should the caramel layer be?
A good caramel layer is about half an inch thick to provide that gooey chew without overwhelming the shortbread or chocolate. Using the measured ingredients should give you the perfect thickness.
Can these Twix Cookie Bars Recipe be stored at room temperature?
Because of the caramel and chocolate layers, it’s best to keep the bars refrigerated to maintain their texture and prevent melting, especially in warm climates.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a homemade dessert that combines all the best parts of your favorite candy bar with the love and care of baking from scratch, you really can’t go wrong with this Twix Cookie Bars Recipe. It’s fun to make, even better to share, and guaranteed to bring smiles every time. So go on, give these bars a try—you might just find your new go-to crowd-pleaser!
Print
Twix Cookie Bars Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Twix Cookie Bars offer a delicious homemade twist on the classic candy bar, featuring a buttery shortbread base, a rich caramel layer, and a smooth chocolate topping. Perfectly balanced with sweet and creamy flavors, these bars are an indulgent treat ideal for sharing.
Ingredients
Shortbread Base
- 1 cup salted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Caramel Filling
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
Chocolate Topping
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1¼ cups milk or dark chocolate
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan to ensure the bars don’t stick after baking.
- Make Shortbread Base: In a large bowl, cream together the room temperature salted butter and powdered sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. Gradually incorporate the all-purpose flour and vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly until a smooth dough forms.
- Bake Shortbread: Press the shortbread dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until the shortbread is lightly golden and set. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
- Prepare Caramel Filling: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the 6 tablespoons of salted butter, light corn syrup, and granulated sugar together, stirring continuously until fully melted and combined. Remove from heat and stir in half the heavy whipping cream (½ cup). Return to low heat and stir until the caramel thickens slightly. Remove from heat again and allow it to cool slightly.
- Layer Caramel: Pour the warm caramel evenly over the cooled shortbread base. Let the pan sit at room temperature for a short while before placing it in the refrigerator to chill and set for about one hour.
- Make Chocolate Topping: Melt the milk or dark chocolate together with the remaining ½ cup of heavy whipping cream over a double boiler or in short bursts in the microwave, stirring until smooth.
- Finish Bars: Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the chilled caramel layer, spreading evenly. Refrigerate again until the chocolate is fully set, about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Serve: Once set, slice into squares and serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is at room temperature for easier creaming in the shortbread base.
- The caramel layer should be poured warm but not hot to avoid melting the shortbread.
- You can use either milk or dark chocolate for the topping based on preference.
- Store any leftover bars in the refrigerator to keep the caramel and chocolate layers firm.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
