This Homemade Twix Cookie Bars recipe brings your favorite candy bar home to your kitchen. A buttery shortbread cookie base with caramel and chocolate, better than the original!
Copycat recipes are so fun to make. From homemade Reese’s peanut butter cups, to easy kit kat candy bars, we love it all!
Why Make Homemade Twix Bars
One of my favorite store bought treat in the checkout lane is a Twix candy bar.
It’ll only take one bite of these homemade Twix bars to convert even the most devout Twix lovers. They start with a shortbread cookie crust!
- Better than store-bought taste.
- Using caramel chips provides perfect taste and texture without the fuss of making homemade caramel.
- With a yield of 32 bars, this is the perfect recipe for any gathering, event, or potluck.
- From start to finish, this recipe takes less than an hour.
Love these bars? Try my easy twix cookies next! For an old fashioned candy treat, add my chunky candy recipe to your list next.
Ingredient Notes
- Butter – Use unsalted and softened butter to stay true to the original Twix taste.
- Powdered Sugar – Don’t substitute other types of sugar here. The superfine powdered sugar will give you the best shortbread texture.
- Vanilla Extract – It’s worth it to pick up pure vanilla extract, the flavor is far better than the artificial stuff. Or try our homemade vanilla extract.
- Kraft Caramel Bits – Find these caramel chips in the baking aisle of your grocery store. They’re a key ingredient that makes this recipe so easy. Of course our homemade caramels would also be perfect!
- Heavy Whipping Cream – The fat content in this ingredient makes the caramel thick, sticky, and rich. Don’t swap it for lesser-fat dairy, or the texture of the caramel will be affected.
- Milk Chocolate Morsels – You can use regular chocolate chips or chop up a large baking bar.
How to Make Twix Candy Bars
- Beat Butter & Sugar –Beat the butter and powdered sugar until light, fluffy, and almost doubled in size.
- Form Cookie Dough – Don’t overmix the dough. Otherwise, you won’t achieve the short and tender cookie texture we’re going for.
- Bake & Cool Shortbread – Spread the dough into an ungreased, parchment-lined 9” square baking dish.
- Create Caramel Layer – While the shortbread base is cooling, combine caramels and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave this mixture in increments, stirring between each cook time, until the caramel is melted and smooth. Then, while the shortbread is still warm, spread the caramel layer over the top.
- Melt & Spread Chocolate Layer – Spread over the top of the caramel layer.
- Set, Cut, & Enjoy – Allow the bars to set for at least 30 minutes before cutting them into bars. This recipe makes 32 Twix-sized cookie bars, so divide the shortbread accordingly.
More Copycat Recipes
- I know it’s a savory dish, but this Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup is spot on! My family LOVES this recipe!
- Ever pick up one of those Salted Nut Rolls from the grocery store? So delicious, I had to make my own recipe!
- Peppermint filling wrapped in sweet chocolate; this Peppermint Patty recipe is easier than you ever realized. Skip the store bought candies and make your own! Shape them like footballs for a game day treat!
- Love lunch treats? Whip up a batch of our copycat Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies.
- Hostess has nothing on our hostess cupcake recipe! And our Twinkie cake is so good.
Favorite Brownies and Bars
See all Brownies and Bars recipes
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Homemade Twix Bars
Homemade Twix Bars bring the candy bar home to your kitchen. A buttery shortbread cookie base with caramel and chocolate, better than the original!
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 package Kraft caramel bits 11 ounce
- 1 Tablespoon heavy whipping cream
- 1 package milk chocolate morsels 12 ounce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and powdered sugar for several minutes until well blended. Add in flour, salt, and vanilla. Beat for 2-3 minutes until dough starts to form a ball.
- Press dough into a 9-inch-square baking dish lined with parchment paper. Bake for 21-25 minutes, until edges become lightly browned. Remove and cool completely.
- While shortbread base is cooling, add caramel bits and whipping cream to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute, stir and heat again for an additional 15-30 seconds. Stir until smooth. Pour over cooled (or mostly cooled) shortbread. Spread evenly.
- Melt chocolate in a microwave safe bowl for one minute. Stir and heat an additional 30 seconds. Frost the top of the caramel and allow to set (about 30 minutes). Cut into bars and enjoy. It may be easier to refrigerate the bars and cut while slightly firm.
Notes
- If you’re a fan of salted caramel, try topping these bars with a sprinkling of flaky sea salt.
- Easily customize this recipe for a unique take on the classic Twix. You can add nuts to the caramel or even swirl the chocolate with peanut butter.
- To help your caramel stick better, underbake the shortbread by a few minutes. Then, spread the caramel layer onto the base while the cookie is still warm (not hot) and the layers should adhere together.
- Store these bars in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll keep for 3-5 days.
- Swap out the all-purpose flour for King Arthur Measure for Measure gluten free flour to make a gluten free treat.
- See blog post for more recipe tips and tricks.
Nutrition
Calories: 98kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 16mg, Sodium: 16mg, Sugar: 3g
Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!
Satisfy your sweet tooth with this Homemade Twix Bar Recipe. Buttery shortbread and sticky caramel topped with a layer of decadent chocolate make this copycat recipe one you won’t want to miss.
Hi I was wondering if I could use almond flour instead? Or will it make it more crumbly And not a cookie texture? Thank you!
Making homemade twix bars is such an awesome idea! They look so yummy!
I LOVE Twix! Great recipe and video! It saves so much money to make my own. With 5 kids we go through them like crazy.
I love anything with caramel so Twix is right up there for sure on my list! I find if I don’t shop when I’m hungry, nothing looks good and I come home with things like gallon jugs of white vinegar and the super size packages of toilet paper or paper towel! All handy but not quite food items either!
I used to love Skittles as well but have to admit, I kind of got over that one with the “Skittles Pox” commercial. Disgusting! That commercial ruined me on the candy and they never seem to stop playing it! Meanwhile, I get my fix on Starburst instead.
I don’t remember that commercial, LOL!!!
These look amazing! I read a quote once that said only eat junk food that you’ve made yourself. I don’t think that person knew quite the amount of junk food I was capable of making 🙂 Thanks for adding another treat to the list!
OMG that’s the best quote ever, LOL
I have never tried millionaire shortbread, but will make this recipe because it has “twix” in the name. 🙂
Sounds like something everyone would like! Thanks so much for posting Aimee!!
Enjoy the cookie bars 🙂
These are just millionaires shortbread nothing new it’s a old recipe, I have been making it for years
That must mean you like them! Not everyone has tried them, or has a recipe, so I’m just helping out here!
What are caramel bits? Can u find the where the chocolate chips are? Or is it little caramels individually wrapped in plastic? Thanks
Yes, they are made by Kraft and found in the baking aisle. You could use regular caramels too, or order on amazon! http://amzn.to/2fxsJMY
These were perfect! I live on the edge of the Amazon rainforest and had a group of Americans over for Thanksgiving. I decided to try this recipe for a dessert since all of us miss decadent American candy bars. Everyone loved them.
I tried these last night. I doubled the recipe and spread them in a full sized cookie sheet. My only complaint is that the crust layer seems way too flaky and either breaks apart or completely separates from the other two layers. What can I do to fix that? Otherwise, delish!! THANKS!!
Try to underbake them a little next time, and add the caramel layer to the warm cookie. That should help 🙂
These look better than the original!
Thank you Laura!!
Those candy bars, magazine, and specials at the front of the store always get me. And I always come out with too many extras in my cart, even if I’m not hungry. Love these fun little homemade bars!!! That gooey caramel is my favorite!
Can not wait to try these. I will be making them after trying the Saltine Toffee recipe, thanks!
Ooh these look so acrummy. I live Twix bars but everything tastes better homemade. Will make these over Christmas but will have to have a practice run first ???? Sammie.
One of our all time favorite candy bars! Now I need to make them at home!
I, too, am guilty of shopping on an empty stomach. It happens ALL THE TIME. I’m a sucker for the buffalo wings and the prepared, bake it at home pizzas the store carries. It’s always just so easy to buy the prepared, super savory foods and just pig out after an arduous shopping trip 🙂 BTW, Love these bars!
When it comes to desserts, I actually think I have pretty good self-control. Unless it’s 1) Kit Kats or 2) Twix. You are killing me here! I cannot wait to try these. Maybe this is why corsets are making such a huge comeback. It’s true. Just read it in the paper yesterday. 4 inches off my waist. Yes please. I could eat this whole batch. I keep raiding my kids Halloween bags for Twix.
Oh, my. I actually a huge fan of shopping hungry. I know it sounds weird, but I get more inspired when I’m starving! 🙂
I love Twix bars with a huge passion, so these look so perfect!