Chocolate Chip Caramel Blondies

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ sticks melted butter
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups chocolate chips
• 1 bag (11 oz)  caramel candy squares
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325º.
2. Grease a 9×13-inch pan and set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
4. Using an electric mixer, mix together the melted butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until combined.  Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and mix until smooth.
5. Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix on low until just combined.
6. Stir in the chocolate chips.
7. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the caramels and heavy cream.  Microwave on high for 20 seconds, then remove bowl and stir. Repeat this at 20 second intervals until the caramel is thoroughly melted.
8. Press half of the cookie dough into the pan.  Pour the hot caramel over the cookie dough and spread into an even layer; leave a border of cookie dough about ½ inch thick.  Drop the remaining cookie dough over the caramel and gently spread (the cookie dough will melt together when baked and cover any caramel that wasn’t able to be covered).
9. Bake for 30 minutes or until the top of the bars are golden brown.