Salted Caramel Cookie Bars

Cookie bars are a great way to make cookies in one pan!

• 1 ¾ gluten free flour
• 1 c. best brown sugar
• ¾ c. salted caramel peanut butter
• ½ c. room temperature butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract
• ¾ tsp. baking soda
• ¼ c. chopped roasted peanuts (salted or unsalted)
• ¼ c. cacao nibs
• 150 g or half of a bag of mini chocolate chips

INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven to 375º. Line a nine-by-13-inch baking dish with parchment, leaving an overhang so the bars are easy to remove. On the two sides not covered with parchment, lightly coat with cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, cream together the brown sugar and the butter. Add in the peanut butter, egg and vanilla.
• On top of the wet mixture, add the flour and the baking soda. Slowly mix in until just combined. With a spoon, stir in the peanuts, cacao nibs and the chocolate chips.
• Scoop the batter into the prepared pan. With wet fingertips, press the batter into the pan filling all four corners and smooth out the top.
• Bake for 20-22 minutes, until lightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean!
• Cool for 30 minutes in the pan and then lift the cookie bars onto a cooling rack and cool completely before slicing.

Tip: Amp up that peanut butter flavour by using salted caramel peanut butter and give these cookie bars some crunch with both roasted peanuts and cacao nibs.