The flavor of Chai! It does wonders to my senses and brings back memories of studying like a freak in the local starbucks while attending LSU. I was a staple at starbucks, I am pretty sure they might still remember me if I walked in and ordered a chocolate chip cookie (duh?) and a venti chai latte. It was my thing, my signature drink and God bless him, my husband to this day remembers to bring me one when he is near a Starbucks.
In honor of the cooler weather(Note: I didn’t say colder- that just doesn’t happen here) we are now FINALLY getting in south Texas I wanted to do a slight twist on my favorite cold weather drink of choice and make it into a dessert. This is no typical dessert. The strong aromatic flavors of the spices and the rich sweetness of the caramel marry so perfectly together it is all I can do not to eat the whole pan right now as I am typing. By all means you would think I would stop making desserts like this since I am really the only one who eats them- but hey- Judge Not!
Did I mention this is the EASIEST shortbread recipe you will ever make and the EASIEST caramel sauce you will ever make? I didn’t mention that yet? Well, consider yourself informed and now that you know this bit of information you are personally responsible to make this dessert:)
These Chai Latte Bars will make the perfect ending to a comforting hearty soup or simply drop them off at a friends’ house this fall and bring someone unexpected JOY!
- For the Shortbread:
- 2 sticks butter, unsalted
- 2 cups All Purpose Flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp coffee extract
- 1½ tsp of My Homemade Chai Spice
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- For the Shortbread (easiest recipe ever)
- Cream together your butter and sugar. Slowly add in the extract and then the dry ingredients. Beat until just combined. Place dough into a greased 8x10 pan and press dough down. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Remove and allow to cool completely as you do the next step.
- For the Sauce:
- Put all ingredients into a medium size saucepan. Turn heat to medium and watch the magic begin. Stir the mixture until the butter is melted then turn heat to high, put down the spoon or whisk and be patient while the mixture comes to a boil. Think happy thoughts! Once the mixture is boiling reduce heat back to medium low and allow to cook for another 8-10 minutes while you are constantly stirring it. Remove, your done! Yeah- next step is below.
- Back to the bars: Drizzle or spoon ½ cup or more of the caramel sauce over the top of the bottom shortbread layer. Allow to cool for a few minutes then crumble the remaining shortbread dough over the top of the caramel. I do this by pulling apart the dough into bite-sized balls and placing them on top of the dough. Then I run a toothpick in and through the dough (barely scraping the top) to mix it all in with the caramel. Bake at 350 for another 15 minutes or until the top is nice and golden brow.
Do you know I’ve never had a chai latte? Isn’t that sad? I’ll have to try one and these yummy looking bars! That crumble topping looks delicious!
So delicious looking, I had to pin them!
I love chai and what a brilliant to use your homemade chai spice for these bars! I love the exact color of your light blue board and I really love this post (recipe + food photo)!!!!
Aren’t husbands the most thoughtful people. How nice that he remembered. These look amazing. No wonder you love them.
Sam
My eyes popped wide open CHAI LATTE CARAMEL BARS. Yowza, yumminess.
I love Chai tea, so I bet these bars tasted fantastic! They look great.
You had me at caramel! They look scrumptious!
Ooh, these are a definite must make.
🙂 Mandy
Your bars looks delightful! and with your own homemade chai spice sounds wonderful. I can imagine the aroma of the spices and the caramel! Wish I could grab a piece now!
A brilliant idea of using chai spices in these caramel bars. Bet they taste heavenly.
What a great idea. Our daughter will love this because she loves almost anything chai!
Girl! These look amazing and I love all your enthusiasm about them. It’s so funny that we have yet another thing in common, chai lattes. I LOVE THEM! They are my afternoon tea of choice. I’m a Peet’s fan when it comes to coffee, but Starbucks does make the best chai lattes. Have you tried the Tazo brand? So good and they make a decaf one as well.
On cold mornings I whip up a decaf chai latte for the kids. They love it! So, are you serious when you say that you’re the only one who eats desserts? That can’t be right? You need to be my neighbor because then we could share treats. I love dessert and need to have a sweet every night. Sadly, my kids are the same way, which is great, but I end up doing a lot of baking. I’m totally going to bake these up and serve them with a chai latte.
xoxo,
Jackie
Chai? Latte? Caramel? Bars? Enough said! Now i’ve got to go to a starbucks. Right now.
You had me with caramel! And easy caramel???? Even better! What delicious bar cookies!!!
Hooray for starbucks 🙂 And this delicious treat! The bars look yummy.
who can resist this fall dessert? I love chai latte so I know this will hit the RIGHT spot to me. You are so good in thinking of desserts!
Hi,
Again one of a kind, creative and delicious recipe from you! I love the flavors in these bars. Yum, Yum, Yum!!!
MMMMM….yummy!!
chai latte! you are taking my language!! I LOVE them – which means I will love these incredible bars – oHHHHH so good. Thanks so much for you lovely comment regarding Sandy, everyone’s kindness and support meant so much
Mary x
I love Chai, especially this time of the year when winter is just peaking around the corner. This is totally going on my must-make list.
I love chai, and these bars sound wonderful. I’m wishing for one with a cup of coffee right now. 🙂
Chai is one of my favorite spice combos in fall and winter…it just makes everything taste better! these bars sound amazing.
A lovely twist to a bar recipe, the chai would be all the lovely warming flavours that we seem to crave this time of year when the temperatures plummet. And the crumble on top would be the texture a bar like this would need. I’ll have one, OK, make that two.
What a winter treat! I love the addition of your chai spice. I am in the mood to use condensed milk in my Diwali sweets these days so got to try this one.
These bars need to be added to my Christmas cookie list.
Jessica, the caramel with chai must be delightful together! Anything with caramel wins me over!
This is on the top of my list of Holiday treats to bake this year, Jessica you’ve just combined two of my favorite things…Chai latte and caramel into one glorious irresistable treat for me:)
these sounds heavenly, i know you are probably trying hard not to finish the whole tray by yourself, i would too!
These sound like a lovely dessert now that the weather is cooling. They are very unique.
Oh I love those chai spices, they are so warm and soothing.
Chai latte was my drink of choice in college too. Haven’t had one in years now. This dessert sounds fabulous!!!!! I have no doubt this would go very well after a soup dinner.
This is a wonderful dessert for fall, I’d have it with a hot steamy drink any day!
Oooh…did you say caramel??? These look irresistible!!!!
I cannot wait to make these for my book club next week! What a lovely, unique and scrumptious treat! The Starbuck’s gingerbread cake gets me every Christmas time. So hooked.
I love chai this time of the year when the weather gets kinda cold and your bars sound great Jessica.
Perfect with my cup of tea right now
Love love love chai everything! These look amazing!