Description
These Knock You Naked Bars are outrageously gooey chocolate–caramel cookie bars made from a simple cake-mix dough. A molten caramel layer melts into chocolate chips between two buttery cookie layers for an irresistibly rich, crowd-pleasing dessert.
Ingredients
BASE & TOPPING
- 1 box (15.25 oz) German chocolate cake mix (or chocolate fudge)
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/3 cup evaporated milk
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- Optional: 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
CARAMEL FILLING
- 1 bag (11 oz) caramel squares, unwrapped (or 1 1/2 cups caramel bits)
- 1/3 cup evaporated milk
FOR THE PAN
- Nonstick spray and/or parchment
- Optional finish: pinch flaky sea salt
Instructions
1. Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch metal pan with parchment, leaving overhang; lightly grease.
2. Make dough: In a bowl, stir cake mix, melted butter, and 1/3 cup evaporated milk until a thick dough forms.
3. Par-bake base: Press half the dough evenly into the pan. Bake 8–10 minutes until just set; remove and cool 5 minutes.
4. Make caramel: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt caramel squares with 1/3 cup evaporated milk, stirring until smooth.
5. Layer: Pour warm caramel over the base. Sprinkle chocolate chips (and nuts, if using).
6. Top layer: Flatten pieces of remaining dough between your palms and patch them over the caramel (some gaps are OK; dough spreads).
7. Bake 20–25 minutes until top is set and edges are lightly crisp.
8. Cool completely (2–3 hours). For clean cuts, chill 30 minutes, then slice into 16 bars. Finish with a pinch of flaky salt if desired.
Notes
Swap: Use caramel bits (no unwrapping) — same simmer method.
Pan sizes: For a 9×13 pan, double all ingredients and bake 25–30 minutes after the par-bake.
Do not overbake; bars set as they cool.
Flavor twists: Try dark chocolate chunks, white chocolate, or peanut butter chips.
Storage: Airtight at room temp 3 days; refrigerate up to 1 week; freeze up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 26g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 25mg