Caramel Cookie Brownies

Caramel + cookie + brownies = yum! 

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CARAMEL COOKIE BROWNIES

INGREDIENTS:

Brownie Layer:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/3 cup flour

Cookie Layer:

• 1 (12 - 16 ounce) tin butter cookies
• 8 ounces cream cheese

Caramel Layer:

• 8 ounce caramels
• 2 Tbsp. milk

Chocolate Layer:

• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
• 1 Tbsp. shortening

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Line a 9-by-13-inch pan with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
3. Cream the butter and sugar. Add in the eggs. Stir in the vanilla. Add the salt, cocoa powder, and flour.
4. Spread the brownie batter in the lined and greased pan.
5. Bake for 26 to 28 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.
6. Let cool.
7. Meanwhile, finely grind the cookies in a food processor. Mix in the cream cheese until smooth.
8. After the brownies are cool, spread the cookie/cream cheese mixture on the brownies. Chill in the refrigerator.
9. Melt the caramels and milk. Pour the caramel mixture over the cookie layer and chill in the refrigerator.
10. Melt the chocolate chips and shortening and pour the mixture over the caramel layer. Chill in the refrigerator.
11. Using a knife heated by warm water (and occasionally wiped with a towel), slice the chilled brownies into pieces.
12. Store in the refrigerator.

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