Twix Buttery Shortbread Caramel (Printable Version)
Buttery shortbread topped with creamy caramel and milk chocolate, inspired by a classic candy bar.
# What You'll Need:
→ Shortbread Base
01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Caramel Layer
06 - 1 cup thick caramel sauce or dulce de leche
07 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
→ Chocolate Topping
08 - 7 oz milk chocolate, chopped
09 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
# Step-by-Step:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla extract.
03 - Add flour and salt, mixing until a soft dough forms.
04 - Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Flatten each ball gently with your palm or the bottom of a glass to about 1/2 inch thick.
05 - Bake for 12-15 minutes, until edges are just golden. Cool completely on wire racks.
06 - Once cool, spread about 1-2 teaspoons of caramel onto each cookie. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to set.
07 - Melt chocolate and butter together in a heatproof bowl over simmering water, stirring until smooth.
08 - Spoon or spread a layer of melted chocolate over the caramel on each cookie.
09 - Chill cookies for another 15 minutes, or until chocolate is set. Serve at room temperature.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- These cookies taste like your childhood candy bar memories but elevated into something you can proudly serve at dinner parties
- The three distinct textures, buttery shortbread, chewy caramel, and smooth chocolate, create a cookie experience that keeps people reaching for seconds
02 -
- If the caramel is too runny, it will slide right off the cookies, so choose a thick caramel sauce or let it sit in the fridge for 20 minutes before spreading
- The cookies must be completely cool before adding the caramel, otherwise the layers will melt together and you will lose those beautiful distinct stripes
03 -
- Chill the dough balls for 15 minutes before baking if your kitchen is warm, this prevents them from spreading too thin in the oven
- Use a small offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the caramel and chocolate layers evenly and neatly