This Twix Cookie Bars recipe is a delicious treat. The buttery shortbread crust acts as the base for the chocolate chip cookie, homemade chewy caramel and melted chocolate layer. It’s truly a show stopper.
Bars are just so convenient for our on the go lives. I love to make big batches and have them on hand. Two family favorites are my Biscoff Recipe bars and my Chewy Peanut Butter Bars.
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Why this Twix Cookie Bars Recipe is a Keeper
This Twix bar recipe is pure comfort. It’s truly one of the best candy bar cookie recipes. It is a favorite of kids and adults alike.
- Better than Store-Bought Twix: No artificial ingredients, just pure butter, sugar, and chocolate for my Twix Cookie Bars.
- Family-Friendly: Loved by kids and adults alike.
- Versatile: Easy to adapt with different chocolates, caramels, or cookie dough bases.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Layers can be prepped in stages, making it stress-free for gatherings.
Are Twix Cookie Bars the Same as Millionaire Bars?
Twix bars and Millionaire bars are similar, but have their differences. Both feature a shortbread base, caramel layer, and chocolate topping, but classic Twix bars are smaller and bite-sized, while Millionaire bars are much larger.
Pro Tip for Homemade Caramel Twix
The absolute best way to get those neat, straight, and professional-looking bars without the layers separating or the caramel oozing out is to fully chill, or even freeze, the layered bar before cutting.
Ingredient Notes for Homemade Twix Bar
This Twix candy bar recipe uses easy ingredients that bring a bunch of flavor.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Chocolate Chips: Use your favorite milk chocolate to melt for these candy bars.
- Corn Syrup: You will need corn syrup to help make your gooey caramel.
- Cookie Dough: Using a tube of chocolate chip cookie dough is a great shortcut for the cookie layer.
Variations and Substitutions for Caramel Bars
Feel free to use different ingredients to substitute or experiment with flavors.
- Chocolate: Swap milk chocolate for dark chocolate chips, semi sweet chocolate or white chocolate. Chocolate wafers work beautifully too.
- Caramel: Use premade caramel sauce or caramel bits if short on time.
- Cookie Dough: Try peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, or even sugar cookie dough for unique twists.
- Toppings: Add M&Ms, sprinkles, or flaky sea salt for extra flavor and texture.
How to Make Twix Cookies Bars
In just 4 steps, you can have your very own chewy homemade Twix cookies. This chocolate and caramel recipe takes just a little effort but the results are well worth it.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Make Shortbread: With a fork, whisk the flour and sugar together in a bowl, then blend in the butter. Transfer this mixture to a parchment paper lined 8×8 baking dish. Pack into the bottom of the dish.
- Layer Cookie Dough & Bake: Layer the cookie dough on top of the shortbread. Pack the dough evenly. Bake in a preheated oven for about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.
- Make the Caramel: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the brown sugar. After it has melted, stir in the sweetened condensed milk and butter. Be sure to continually stir while the caramel thickens. Evenly pour the caramel over the cookie layer.
- Chocolate Layer: Pop the cookie into the fridge to chill before the chocolate layer. Melt the chocolate just before removing from the fridge. Spread in an even layer, then return to the fridge to chill for an hour before cutting.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for Cookie and Caramel Layer
To make your baking process even more efficient, there are some ways you can prep this homemade Twix bars recipe in advance.
- Making Caramel Ahead: Make salted caramel in advance and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Shortbread Crust: Bake the shortbread base a day ahead, then add caramel and chocolate layers later.
- Freeze Bars: Freeze uncut bars in the 9×13 dish after layering; thaw before slicing.
Alternate Cooking Methods for My Twix Cookie Bars
Feel free to prepare come of the ingredients in this recipe another way.
- Microwave Caramel Shortcut: Use caramel bits + condensed milk melted in short bursts instead of making your own creamy caramel from scratch.
- Air Fryer Base: Bake the cookie base in an air fryer-safe pan for quicker prep.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftovers
- Storing: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3–4 days.
- Reheating: Briefly microwave (10–15 seconds) to soften caramel and chocolate.
- Leftovers: Chop into ice cream as a mix-in.
- Parfaits: Crumble over yogurt or parfaits.
- Topping: Use the Twix Cookie Bars as a cheesecake topping .
Common Questions About This Twix Cookie Bars Recipe
The sugar may not have been completely melted, leading to grainy caramel. Overheating the caramel can also cause it to become too thick or burnt. Be sure you consistently stir until sugar has melted.
Yes, feel free to experiment with different cookie doughs. Try different varieties like peanut butter or oatmeal raisin.
Expert Tips for Making This Twix Bars Recipe
- Hot Knife Trick: Dip knife in hot water for clean slices.
- Add Flaky Sea Salt: Balances sweetness beautifully.
- Oil in Chocolate: Add 1 teaspoon neutral oil when melting chocolate for smoother texture.
- Layer Chill Time: Chill caramel before adding chocolate to prevent mixing for these Twix Cookie Bars.
- Serve With: Serve with Chocolate Glazed Biscuit Donuts, Crock Pot Hot Chocolate or Sugar Sprinkle Cookies.
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Twix Cookie Bars
Equipment
- Sharp Knife
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Ingredients
Cookie Layer
- 1 ¼ cups All purpose flour
- ¼ cup White granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup Unsalted butter, softened
- 16.5 ounces Cookie dough, 1 tube
Caramel Layer
- ½ cup Butter
- ½ cup Light brown sugar
- ½ cup Sweetened condensed milk
- 2 Tablespoons Corn syrup
Chocolate Layer
- 2 cups Chocolate chips, melted
Instructions
- Set the oven to 325℉ and line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper.
- Whisk the flour and sugar together in a bowl, then blend in the softened butter using a fork until fully combined.
- Empty the contents of this mixture into the baking dish, making sure it is spread out evenly and firmly pressed down onto the bottom of the pan.
- Layer the shortbread crust with the chocolate cookie dough, making sure it covers the surface completely. Press chunks of dough into the pan, ensuring they are evenly distributed and firmly pressed down.
- Pop into the oven and let it bake for 22-25 minutes. Don't worry if the cookie dough layer seems a bit unfinished; that's exactly how it should be.
- While allowing this to cool, put the brown sugar in a saucepan. Apply medium heat and stir occasionally until it completely melts.
- After it has completely melted, incorporate the butter and sweetened condensed milk.
- Stir non-stop while the mixture combines and melts. Although it may look a little separated, keep stirring until the caramel begins to bubble and form.
- Gently pour this layer onto the cookie dough layer, ensuring even coverage with a rubber spatula or spoon. Allow to cool in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
- Microwave the chocolate chips in 30-second intervals until fully melted and smooth, approximately 5 minutes before removing the baking dish from the refrigerator. To achieve a thinner consistency, incorporate a teaspoon of oil while melting the chocolate.
- The caramel layer needs to have a firm consistency to prevent it from blending and merging with the chocolate. Pour the melted chocolate over it, ensuring an even distribution, and return it to the refrigerator for 1 hour.
- Cut square bars of this dessert using a sharp knife that has been dipped in hot water.
Christina’s Notes
- Add M&Ms: For an extra burst of color and flavor, sprinkle some M&Ms or mini M&Ms on top of the melted chocolate before putting it in the fridge.
- Top with Flakey Sea Salt: If you enjoy the combination of sweet and salty, sprinkling a touch of flakey sea salt over the melted chocolate layer will add a delicious twist.
- Cutting Tip: To achieve a clean and professional look, dip a sharp knife in hot water before making each cut. This prevents the layers from sticking to the knife and ensures smooth edges.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.