Name: Cookie Dough Billionaire Bars Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups (1 lb or 4 sticks) butter, softened; 1 cup sugar; 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed; 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 2 cups sugar; 12 tablespoons butter; 1 cup heavy cream; 1 tablespoon fleur de sel or fine sea salt; 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened; 1/2 cup sugar; 1 cup light brown sugar, packed; 2 tablespoons heavy cream; 1 tablespoon vanilla extract; 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips; 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips; 1 cup heavy cream; 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Jump to Recipe· 4.1 from 223 reviews

If you have a serious sweet tooth and love layers of decadent flavors, let me introduce you to the Cookie Dough Billionaire Bars Recipe, a divine combination of buttery shortbread, luscious salted caramel, rich cookie dough, and a silky chocolate ganache topping. Each bite is an irresistible marriage of textures and tastes that feels like a celebration in your mouth. This bar is perfect for impressing guests or treating yourself to an indulgent moment that melts all worries away.

Ingredients You’ll Need

A square dessert bar with three distinct layers is shown on a white marbled surface. The bottom layer is pale, smooth, and firm like a shortbread crust. The middle layer is creamy with small dark chocolate bits mixed in, soft in texture, and slightly thick. A caramel sauce gently drips down from this layer onto the bottom. The top layer is a rich, glossy dark chocolate glaze that covers the whole dessert. Scattered around the bar are a few chocolate chips, some sea salt flakes, and pieces of caramel candy. A blurred white bottle is in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

These ingredients are simple but essential, each playing a vital role in creating those luscious layers and balancing the perfect texture and flavor. From creamy butters to rich chocolates, every component is thoughtfully chosen to elevate every bite.

Butter: The foundation for both the tender shortbread crust and creamy cookie dough layers, ensuring richness and moisture.
Sugar (granulated and light brown): Provides sweetness with a touch of caramel depth from the brown sugar.
All-purpose flour: Builds structure in the shortbread and cookie dough for that perfect crumbly-yet-chewy texture.
Salt (fleur de sel or fine sea salt): Balances sweet layers with a hint of savory, especially crucial in the caramel.
Heavy cream: Adds silkiness to both the ganache and the caramel, enriching each layer.
Vanilla extract: Lifts the flavor profile, tying all the layers together with warmth.
Mini semisweet chocolate chips: Stirred into the cookie dough for little bursts of chocolate goodness throughout.
Dark chocolate chips: Transformed into a luscious ganache that crowns the bars with decadent chocolate flavor.

How to Make Cookie Dough Billionaire Bars Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the Shortbread Base

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F and lining a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang to easily lift your bars later. Beat the softened butter and sugars until light and fluffy, then gently mix in the flour and salt until just combined. Press this dough evenly into the pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Don’t worry if it looks jiggly at the center when it comes out of the oven—it will firm up as it cools into a buttery, tender crust that’s the perfect base for all the layers to come.

Step 2: Make the Salted Caramel Layer

While the shortbread is baking and cooling, prepare a homemade salted caramel sauce, using fleur de sel or fine sea salt to add that exceptional flavor contrast. Pour about half of the hot caramel over the cooled shortbread crust and chill it in the refrigerator for at least an hour. If it’s still too soft, a quick stint in the freezer for 15 minutes will help it set just right before moving on.

Step 3: Whip Up the Cookie Dough Layer

In a fresh bowl, beat together softened butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add heavy cream and vanilla extract to create a rich, creamy base, then stir in the flour and salt just until everything is combined—overmixing can make the dough tough. Toss in mini semisweet chocolate chips to scatter pockets of chocolatey bliss throughout this decadent, spreadable cookie dough layer, then smoothly spread it over the set caramel. Pop this back into the fridge while you prepare the final layer.

Step 4: Craft the Chocolate Ganache

The crowning glory of the Cookie Dough Billionaire Bars Recipe is the silky chocolate ganache. Place your dark chocolate chips in a bowl. Simmer heavy cream with vanilla extract on the stove, then pour it over the chips and let it sit for five minutes before whisking until perfectly smooth. This velvety ganache pours beautifully over the cookie dough layer, setting into a glossy, rich top that’s pure chocolate heaven. Chill the bars for about 30 minutes until the ganache is firm.

Step 5: Cut and Serve

Use the parchment paper overhang to lift the entire block of bars from the pan onto a cutting board. Grab a large sharp knife and slice into 2-inch squares, revealing the tempting stacked layers waiting for you to sink your teeth in.

How to Serve Cookie Dough Billionaire Bars Recipe

The image shows a close-up of square dessert bars with three clear layers. The bottom layer is thick, light cream-colored, and looks soft and dense. The middle layer is a creamy white with small dark chocolate chunks mixed throughout, giving it a textured look, and some caramel is dripping from this layer. The top layer is a smooth, shiny dark chocolate glaze with a slightly glossy finish. The bars sit on small white paper squares placed on a dark surface with scattered chocolate chips around them. In the background, more bars are stacked on a white plate, all set against a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

While these bars are showstoppers on their own, a sprinkle of flaky sea salt over the chocolate ganache just before serving adds a fantastic contrast to the sweetness. You could also dust the tops with a little cocoa powder or drizzle some extra caramel for an elegant finish that dazzles both the eyes and the palate.

Side Dishes

Pair these bars with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of freshly whipped cream for a decadent dessert experience. A hot cup of coffee or rich espresso complements the buttery sweetness perfectly and can help balance the richness for a complete indulgence.

Creative Ways to Present

Want to wow at your next gathering? Serve baby versions of the Cookie Dough Billionaire Bars Recipe in mini muffin tins for adorable portions. Another fun idea is to cut them into bite-sized squares and stick toothpicks in each for a dessert party platter that invites everyone to dig in and enjoy the deliciousness, no utensils required!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

This recipe keeps incredibly well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. The bars maintain their texture and flavor beautifully, making them perfect for making ahead of celebrations or simply enjoying over several days.

Freezing

Freeze any leftover bars by wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap and placing them in a freezer-safe container or bag. They will keep well for up to three months. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator for best results.

Reheating

Because these bars are layered with butter, caramel, and chocolate, reheating isn’t usually necessary, but if you prefer a softer texture, warm individual bars in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. This lets the chocolate ganache soften slightly without melting completely, bringing out those rich flavors even more.

FAQs

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter?

Yes, you can substitute salted butter if that’s what you have on hand, but be mindful of the added salt in the caramel layer. You might want to reduce or omit the fleur de sel to avoid over-salting the bars.

Is it safe to eat the cookie dough layer raw?

This cookie dough is made without eggs and uses heat-treated flour recommendations to ensure safety, making it perfectly safe to enjoy as the middle layer of these bars.

Can I use different types of chocolate chips?

Absolutely! While the recipe calls for mini semisweet chocolate chips in the dough and dark chocolate chips for ganache, feel free to experiment with milk chocolate, white chocolate, or even butterscotch chips for a personalized twist.

How do I know when the shortbread is done baking?

The shortbread is done when the edges turn a light golden brown, and while the center may still look slightly jiggly, it will firm up as it cools. Avoid overbaking to keep it tender and crumbly.

Can I double this recipe for a larger batch?

Yes, the recipe can be doubled and baked in a larger pan with adjustments to baking time. Just be mindful to watch the shortbread closely, as thicker layers may require more time to bake completely.

Final Thoughts

If you’re ready to experience the ultimate decadent treat that layers buttery shortbread, salted caramel, irresistible cookie dough, and rich chocolate ganache, you absolutely must try the Cookie Dough Billionaire Bars Recipe. This gem of a dessert will quickly become a favorite in your baking repertoire, perfect for sharing with loved ones or savoring all by yourself. Once you taste one bite, you’ll understand why these bars are worthy of the title “billionaire” in every sense!