PALEO CHOCOLATE CARAMEL COOKIE BARS – Gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, vegan, with nut-free option. With cookie, caramel, and chocolate layers, this one hits the spot and quickly has become a favorite! These were inspired by a decadent cookie bar a dear friend in Oregon used to make that I knew I needed to create a recipe around.
About That Caramel
I use my easy Homemade Paleo Caramel to keep this recipe paleo, though you can use any vegan or regular caramel that works for you. I personally found vegan caramel hard to find and expensive. So, I created my own Paleo Caramel recipe! It only uses 3 ingredients and takes 10 minutes hands-on prep. Such a great paleo ice cream topping or ingredient for almost Twix-like bars like these.
Recipe Tips
- We love using the almond flour and coconut oil for healthy fats that balance out the sugar, but I included a nut-free option as well for those who need it, and these are already naturally egg-free.
- These will come out of the oven looking gooey and not done. No worries – they will take shape in the freezer!
- These are best kept in and eaten out of the fridge, though you can leave them out for a few hours and still be ok, especially if they were previously in the freezer.
Ingredients
- Almond flour – I prefer “super-fine” almond flour to get the best texture. I like this one from Blue Diamond I can get at Sam’s Club or Amazon. See notes for nut-free option!
- Tapioca flour – I get mine from the bulk bins at Winco. You can also find it easily on Amazon here. You can also use arrowroot or potato starch if those are more accessible for you!
- Coconut sugar – I get my coconut sugar most affordably from the bulk bins at Winco. When I buy it online, here (1.5 pounds) or here (5lbs, cheaper but in bulk) are the one I get from Amazon.
- Baking Powder
- Melted Coconut Oil or Ghee – Coconut oil is a great option if you need these to be vegan. Or you can swap a vegan butter like Miyokos in equal amounts. Measured after you melt it!
- Vanilla – Pure vanilla extract is ideal, and also sometimes it’s dang pricey. Imitation vanilla extract works too!
- Paleo Caramel – I use my Paleo Caramel recipe here. You can use any vegan caramel that works for you though!
- Dairy-free Chocolate Chips – I use Enjoy Life Foods, as it’s the easiest for me to find locally and tastes great. You can also use Hu kitchen chocolate for a Paleo option!
Oh these are good – be sure to make these soon!
Paleo Chocolate Caramel Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups almond flour*
- 1 cup tapioca flour
- 3/4 cup coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup melted coconut oil or ghee
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3/4 cup paleo caramel see notes
- 3/4 cup mini or regular dairy-free chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x9 pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients (almond flour through salt). Then add vanilla and coconut oil and stir still combined.
- Press half of cookie dough into the bottom of the prepared pan and cook for 5 minutes.
- Remove from oven and drizzle with caramel and then sprinkle with chocolate chips. Finally, crumble the remaining half of the dough over the chocolate chips and caramel. Bake again for 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and chill in freezer for 1 hour until solid. Store in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Need a nut-free option? We also enjoyed this with 1 cup cassava flour + 1 1/2 cup oats instead of the almond + tapioca flour.
These bars are amazing and easy to make! I make them on repeat often and they don’t last long. They aren’t too sweet and they have a satisfying crunchy texture. I split the ghee and coconut oil, half and half. I have also swapped the caramel for peanut butter, yummy.
Ooo, I love hearing the modifications you have tried and loved! My boys would enjoy that peanut butter swap for sure. Thank you for the review!
These bars are amazing! We are a family of two and these freeze well. Thank you for all you do for us!
These brass are amazing! We are a family of two and these freeze well. Thank you for all you do for us!
I’m so happy you love these bars – thank you!
One of my absolute favorite gluten free dairy free dessert recipes!! They are so “buttery” tasting and have the perfect amount of richness!
I love that these are a favorite DF/GF dessert, thank you!
Oh my….these bars are absolutely AMAZING! So easy to put together and the flavor is there. I made the Paleo Caramel the night before and substituted 1/2 of the coconut oil with ghee. Just the perfect hint of “butter” taste. Thanks for sharing. This will be a regular at our house.
I’m so happy these were a winner my friend! Great to know on the ghee working well for you in the caramel, thanks for sharing. Thank you!
These look amazing! I can’t do nuts or grains (so can’t do the oats) — any thoughts about a cassava + tapioca/arrowroot combo that would work?
You know, I have been playing around with cassava and tapioca flour combinations lately, but I don’t have one figured out for this recipe just yet. I will add it when I do and thanks for letting me know it’s needed!
My family of boys inhaled these bars! I need to remember to make a double batch next time!
My family of boys inhaled these bars! I need to remember to make a double batch next time!
My boys devour these too! So happy your family loved them, thank you!
This was the perfect treat for our family camping trip!
So happy your family loved them too! Thank you!
I need the nut-free option…any thoughts on subbing the cassava flour with Arrow Root flour or Tapioca flour? My knowledge on which flour can be subbed out is somewhat limited. TIA!
Arrowroot and tapioca are interchangeable with each other, but not with cassava flour usually. Unfortunately, each paleo flour behaves very differently.
How has this not been part of my life?! Yum!
So happy you loved this treat, thank you!