Chocolate Caramel Bars are made with a combination of a chocolate cake mix and melted caramels, these bars are both easy and indulgent and are sure to impress your friends and family. With a crispy crust and a sweet, gooey caramel filling, these bars are sure to be a hit with anyone who loves rich, decadent desserts. Plus, with just a few basic ingredients, you can whip up a batch of these bars in no time. So why wait? Try out this recipe today and satisfy your sweet tooth!
This caramel treat makes the perfect addition to any dessert table and quickly becomes a fan favorite. So, whether you are hosting or attending, plan on making this caramel bar recipe.
You can even make a batch along with No Bake Peanut Butter Bars, and Gluten Free Pumpkin Bars to further elevate the table. Dessert bar recipes never disappoint!
Caramel pairs well with everything from butterscotch to fruity flavors but there is something about a caramel and chocolate combo that far exceeds any other combination. The sweetness of the caramel can make any ordinary chocolate dessert outstanding.
To get started, gather the equipment and ingredients then follow the written instructions or printable recipe card. Enjoy!
Table of Contents
Equipment
- 9 x 13 baking dish
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- stir spoon
- nonstick cooking spray ✅
- mixing bowl
- saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 box gluten-free chocolate cake mix
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup evaporated milk, divided ✅
- 14 ounces caramels ✅
- 1 cup chocolate chips ✅
Gluten-Free Guide: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten.
How To Make
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray the baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Blend the cake mix
In a mixing bowl combine the cake mix, oil, and 2/3 cup evaporated milk. The mix will be thick. Place half of it into the baking pan. Using your hands press it evenly into the pan.
Bake
Bake the crust for 10 minutes. Set aside once baked.
Melt the caramels
Add the caramels and 1/3 cup of evaporated milk to a saucepan. Cook over low heat stirring until the caramels melt.
Add the toppings to the crust
Add the chocolate chips to the baked crust. Pour the caramel sauce on top of the chocolate chips. Sprinkle the rest of the cake mix on top of the caramel sauce.
Bake
Bake the caramel bars for 20-25 minutes or until the bars are set. Let cool then slice.
Substitutions & Variations
- Purchase a premade caramel sauce instead of making from scratch.
- Add sea salt to turn these into salted caramel bars by sprinkling on the top of the caramel layer or mixing into the caramel sauce.
- Add a layer of crushed nuts on top of the caramel sauce. Pecans, peanuts or walnuts are all delicious options that add a crunch.
- If you find these bars too rich for your preference, cut into smaller squares and enjoy as mini caramel bars.
- Use semi-sweet, milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips or switch to white chocolate, mint or butterscotch chips.
- Pair with coffee, tea or a cold glass of milk.
- Mix sprinkles, shredded coconut or M&Ms into the top layer of cake.
- Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store homemade desserts in the freezer for up to 3 months. It can be helpful to place a piece of parchment paper between each of these bars to prevent from sticking together.
We believe that everyone should enjoy dessert, even those of us with celiac disease. You will find a wide variety of treats on the site, but a few favorites include Old Fashioned Fudge, Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes, Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies and Gluten-Free Angel Food Cake.
Absolutely. It is a great recipe to make a day in advance to store in the fridge or at room temperature then slice and serve when ready.
We recommend a 9×13 baking dish to create a thick bar. You could also use a 15″ x 10″ baking dish if thinner bars are desired. Be cautious not to go much bigger as the bars will be too thin and difficult to remove from the dish.
After cooling, serve as a mid-afternoon treat, after-dinner dessert, lunchbox snack or at an event.
Storing Instructions
Caramel bars can be stored at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the fridge to extend to 7-10 days. The bars can be stored in the baking dish covered with plastic wrap or transferred to a container with a lid.
They also freeze well when stored in a Ziploc bag or freezer safe container. When craving chocolate, enjoy straight from the freezer or thaw at room temperature.
Frozen caramel bars can also be heated in the microwave to turn into a warm and gooey dessert that is amazing!
Kids In The Kitchen
Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.
- Spray the baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or line with parchment paper to make it easy to remove the bars.
- Only press half of the chocolate cake into the bottom of the baking dish. You will save the other half to crumble on top once the caramel layer has been added.
- Melt the caramels over a low heat to prevent burning the caramel. Keep stirring in the pot until completely melted.
Things to Make with Caramel Sauce
There are many delicious recipes using caramel, why stop with this recipe! From coating popcorn treats and homemade puff corn to drizzling cakes and crisps, you will want to try each and every one of these easy caramel desserts.
- Caramel Puff Corn
- Caramel Apple Slices
- Pumpkin Spice Popcorn
- Caramel Pear Crisp
- Gluten Free Apple Cobbler
- Gluten-Free Apple Bundt Cake
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Chocolate Caramel Bar Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 box gluten-free chocolate cake mix
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup evaporated milk, divided ✅
- 14 ounces caramels ✅
- 1 cup chocolate chips ✅
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray the baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Blend the cake mix. In a mixing bowl combine the cake mix, oil, and 2/3 cup evaporated milk. The mix will be thick. Place half of it into the baking pan. Using your hands press it evenly into the pan.1 box gluten-free chocolate cake mix, 1 cup evaporated milk, divided, 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- ⭐️Bake. Bake the crust for 10 minutes. Set aside once baked.
- ⭐️Melt the caramels. Add the caramels and 1/3 cup of evaporated milk to a saucepan. Cook over low heat stirring until the caramels melt.14 ounces caramels, 1 cup evaporated milk, divided
- ⭐️Add the toppings to the crust. Add the chocolate chips to the baked crust. Pour the caramel sauce on top of the chocolate chips. Sprinkle the rest of the cake mix on top of the caramel sauce.1 cup chocolate chips
- ⭐️Bake. Bake the caramel bars for 20-25 minutes or until the bars are set. Let cool then slice.
Notes
- Purchase a premade caramel sauce instead of making from scratch.
- Add sea salt to turn these into salted caramel bars by sprinkling on the top of the caramel layer or mixing into the caramel sauce.
- Add a layer of crushed nuts on top of the caramel sauce. Pecans, peanuts or walnuts are all delicious options that add a crunch.
- If you find these bars too rich for your preference, cut into smaller squares and enjoy as mini caramel bars.
- Use semi-sweet, milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips or switch to white chocolate, mint or butterscotch chips.
- Pair with coffee, tea or a cold glass of milk.
- Mix sprinkles, shredded coconut or M&Ms into the top layer of cake.
- Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Nutrition
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