Caramel Snickerdoodle Bars

5 from 6 votes

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Caramel Snickerdoodle Bars are seriously addicting! All the things you love about snickerdoodles plus soft caramel in the middle!

snickerdoodle bars stacked on top of each other

Snickerdoodle Bars

Guys, I’m going to change my addicting ways and fill up on all the non-sugary things… just as soon as these Caramel Snickerdoodle Bars have left my house. Soft caramel + soft cookie bars + cinnamon + sugar = heaven. In the meantime, these are RIDICULOUS and SIMPLE and DELICIOUS!!!! Like for reals. Go make them immediately.

If you love cinnamon-spiced cookies give these a try: Snickerdoodle Waffle Cookies, Snickerdoodle Cookies, Cinnamon Roll Cookies, and Cinnamon Butterscotch Cookies.

cookie dough with cinnamon sugar

Main Ingredients Needed + Substitutes

This snickerdoodle bars recipe uses my recipe for Perfect Snickerdoodles and warm soft caramel. Here’s what you need to make this sweet treat:

  • Butter + Butter Flavored Shortening – the trick to a good snickerdoodle is to have to be puffy but not too puffy. You can use all butter if preferred.
  • Granulated Sugar – to sweeten the cookies.
  • Eggs – for structure. If you can’t have eggs, replace two eggs with two tablespoons of ground flax seeds plus 6 tablespoons of water (mix ground flax seeds with water. Allow the mixture to rest until it becomes gelatinous, then add to the dough).
  • Vanilla – for flavor.
  • All-Purpose Flour – to fill out the cookies and make the dough.
  • Cream of Tartar – this is a common ingredient found in almost all snickerdoodle recipes. It gives the cookie its signature slightly tangy taste.
  • Baking Soda – our leavening agent.
  • Salt – to balance out the sweet.
  • Cinnamon + Sugar – these two are mixed together to create the perfect cinnamon sugar blend.
  • Kraft Caramels + Heavy Cream – I’m talking about the cube-shaped caramels that can be found at your local grocery store. The heavy cream makes the caramel pourable and soft. If you have your own caramel filling/sauce recipe you’d like to use, go for it!

Snickerdoodle Bars Variations

This snickerdoodle bars recipe is perfect on its own, but consider these variations if you’re feeling adventurous:

  • Salted Caramel – add some salt flaked atop the caramel filling to create a salted caramel taste!
  • Chocolate Chips – add chocolate chips atop the caramel filling to create snickerdoodle-caramelita cookie bars.
  • No Caramel – if you’re looking for an even easier recipe just leave out the caramel element! What you’re left with is basically snickerdoodles!

How to Make Snickerdoodle Bars

For full details on how to make Snickerdoodle Bars, see the recipe card down below 🙂

1. Preheat + Prep

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spray 9×13 glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray, set aside.

2. Make Cookie Dough + Cinnamon Sugar

In a large bowl, cream butter, shortening, and sugar. Stir in eggs and vanilla. Add in all dry ingredients and stir until just incorporated. Scrape edges and mix again briefly.

In a small bowl, stir sugar and cinnamon together.

3. Line Pan

Pour half the cinnamon-sugar mixture into the baking dish and spread around to coat the bottom.

Take 2/3 of the cookie dough and press into the bottom of the pan and up the sides about 1 inch. Sprinkle the top of the cookie dough with 1 tablespoon of the remaining cinnamon sugar.

4. Melt + Pour Caramel

In a medium-size bowl, add caramels and cream. Microwave for 20-second intervals, stirring in between each until completely melted and smooth.

Pour caramel over cookie dough and spread to smooth.

5. Top with Cookie Dough + Cinnamon Sugar

Take small pieces of remaining cookie dough, flatten slightly in between your hands and place over top the caramel until no more cookie dough remains. Sprinkle the cookie dough on top of the caramel with the last of the cinnamon and sugar.

6. Bake + Cool

Bake snickerdoodle bars for 25 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.

Once baked, everything will be puffed and a little bit larger than before. All totally normal! Let the snickerdoodle bars simmer down and cool, then cut into bars!

At room temperature, the caramel and cookie bars will be soft and barely runny. Warm bars fresh out of the oven means hot caramel lava. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, buuuuut don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Do you see what I mean about the room temperature caramel? It’s at a sweet spot…right where you want it!

snickerdoodle bars stacked on top of each other
hand holding a snickerdoodle bar

Totally sweet and delicious 🙂

Everyone will beg you for this Caramel Snickerdoodle Bars recipe. These are perfect treats to bring to holiday parties or Christmas cookie exchanges! Honestly, they’ll be the talk of the town.

Printable recipe below. Have a great day, friends!!

hand holding a snickerdoodle bar
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5 from 6 votes

Caramel Snickerdoodle Bars

Caramel Snickerdoodle Bars are seriously addicting! All the things you love about snickerdoodles plus soft caramel in the middle!
servings 18 bars
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 1/2 cup butter flavored shortening or more butter
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs or 2 Tbsp flax seeds + 6 Tbsp water*
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 3 cups all purpose flour minus 2 tablespoons
  • 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

cinnamon sugar topping

caramel filling

  • 13 oz kraft caramels unwrapped
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • In a large bowl, cream butter, shortening, and sugar. Stir in eggs and vanilla. Add in all dry ingredients and stir until just incorporated. Scrape edges and mix again briefly.
  • In a small bowl, stir sugar and cinnamon together.
  • Lightly spray 9×13 glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Pour half the cinnamon-sugar mixture into the baking dish and spread around to coat the bottom.
  • Take 2/3 of the cookie dough and press into the bottom of the pan and up the sides about 1 inch. Sprinkle the top of the cookie dough with 1 tablespoon of the remaining cinnamon sugar.
  • In a medium-size bowl, add caramels and cream. Microwave for 20-second intervals, stirring in between each until completely melted and smooth.
  • Pour caramel over cookie dough and spread to smooth. Take small pieces of remaining cookie dough, flatten slightly in between your hands and place over top the caramel until no more cookie dough remains. Sprinkle the cookie dough on top of the caramel with the last of the cinnamon and sugar.
  • Bake for 25 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
  • Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Notes

* for the egg substitution: mix ground flax seeds with water. Allow the mixture to rest until it becomes gelatinous, then add to the dough.

Nutrition

Calories: 353kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 229mg | Potassium: 130mg | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 240IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1.1mg
Course: Cookies, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: snickerdoodle bars, snickerdoodle bars recipe, snickerdoodle cookie bars

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27 Responses
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  4. Heather Bee

    5 stars
    Lauren, I’ve made these bars so many times I’ve lost count and I always get asked for the recipe! They turn out perfectly each time and that gooey caramel layer… wow! I didn’t think snickerdoodles could get any better, but you’ve proved me wrong.

  5. Suzanne Justesen

    5 stars
    SImple to make and everyone loved them! Heated them in the micro and topped with vanilla ice cream. So good. Stored them in a ziplock and they were even better the next day. Caramel stays soft!

  6. Senika @ Foodie Blog Stalker

    I did my first Whole30 in August (documented it all on my blog) and, I’m not gonna lie, it.was.HARD. My husband (jokingly) says, “You lose weight because you lose your will to live.” 🙂 Ok, it’s not THAT bad but it is definitely difficult. BUT I’m already thinking about doing it again – gah! I’ve never felt better (after the first 15 days), had so much energy and actually had the urge to exercise. First I need to make these cookies though! Priorities 🙂

  7. Sally

    What to do with all that Halloween candy? My mom used to let us have some and at night she would glean stuff to put in our Christmas stockings! Way to go Mom, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle back in the 50’s!

  8. Becki

    Oh my goodness – these look ridiculously delicious! Two of my favorite things – good caramel and snickerdoodles. Definitely pinning and going on my list of stuff to make soon!

  9. Lynn

    5 stars
    Oh heavenly snicker doodle+caramel. Come to grandma!! I could bake dozens of batches and never eat anything else! Lauren, you’ve nailed a perfect combo! Even my 6’1″, 172lb marathon son couldn’t stop eating these!! “Mom, do NOT bring a full plate of these again”. That’s ok son, more for me!!

  10. stefanie @ sarcastic cooking

    Oh man. As a fellow preggo, I appreciate this recipe. Also, the dreams I have had this pregnancy have been the weirdest ever!!! I also have predicted two pregnancies through dreams!!! Insane.

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