New products from Trader Joe’s continually make my day. My Halloween Pumpkin Quesadillas, Yuzu Miso Mahi Mahi, and Vanilla Joe-Joe Strawberry Cheesecake just wouldn’t have been the same without their orange quesadillas, Yuzu Citrus Tisane Beverage, and Vanilla Joe-Joes, respectively. And now TJs has come to the rescue one again!
A few months ago, I fell in love with Ben and Jerry’s Late Night Snack, a luscious vanilla ice cream swirled with fudge covered potato chips and ribbons of salty caramel, which was created my Jimmy Fallon. Mmm, the combo of flavors was just so unique and addicting that after my first bite, I immediately thought a cookie with similar flavors would also be fantastic. Unfortunately, my first two attempts to whip them up were utter failures because putting potato chips in cookie dough just doesn’t work so well – the flavor is muted and they don’t stay crispy. Luckily, my problem was solved the other day when I noticed Trader Joe’s is now selling milk chocolate covered potato chips – what a genius idea! Instead of baking potato chips into the dough, I decided to top my cookies with these chips instead.
I topped sugar cookie bars with a layer of Trader Joe’s Fleur de Sel Caramel Sauce and a bit of pretzel crumble (because pretzels are also one of my favorite late night snacks!) and then sprinkled some chopped milk chocolate covered potato chips on top as soon as they came out of the oven. The chocolate melted just enough to adhere the chips to the bars, but the potato chips stayed nice and crispy – yum! Oh, and while I will continue to buy the chocolate covered potato chips from Trader Joe’s because I tend to make a huge mess whenever I temper chocolate, you could certainly make them yourself if you don’t have a TJs nearby!
Late Night Snack Bars
Printable Recipe
Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cups granulated sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup pretzel crumbs (I pulsed a handful of pretzels in the food processor until crumbs formed)
1/3 cup Fleur de Sel Caramel Sauce from Trader Joe’s (from a 10 ounce jar)
1 cup lightly chopped Milk Chocolate Covered Potato Chips from Trader Joe’s
Directions:
Heat oven to 350˚F. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together. Mix in eggs and vanilla extract; stir in flour, baking powder, and salt until soft dough forms. Place 1/4 cup dough in a medium bowl and stir in pretzel crumbs until well incorporated. Spread remaining dough in bottom of a greased 8×8-inch pan. Bake 10 minutes at 350˚F or until dough is puffed in the center. Remove from oven and evenly spread caramel sauce on top with back of a spoon, leaving edges to the bars around the outside of the pan. Crumble pretzel dough evenly on top and bake an additional 10 to 12 minutes at 350˚F or until a toothpick comes out clean. Immediately top with chopped chocolate covered potato chips. Cool completely, about 1 hour, and cut into bars. Makes 16 bars.
Nutrition: 205 calories, 9.9g fat, 0.8g fiber, 2.5g protein per bar
Cost: $0.42 per bar
These just sound downright dangerous!
These are just amazing!!! Love sweet and salty snacks like this.
Genius! I haven’t had the chocolate covered chips but sweet and salty treats always sound great in my book!
I love TJ products and I love that you use them in so many creative recipes! My latest obsession is the cocoa almond spread!
what a decadent late night snack. I am not sure I’ve tried that Ben & Jerry’s flavor yet but I’m intrigued. I love a sweet salty combo!
Grrrrrr.Trader Joes..Curse you. I don’t have one within 800 miles of me.
These look soooooo good!
Tomorrow is my cheat day and I am oh so totally hitting up trader joe’s for these ingredients…or my supermarket for that ice cream…or both.
oh that salted caramel sauce i just tried. heavenly
i thought it would not be that great but wow, it is amazing. i need to do something fun with it.
I am in LOVE with that ice cream too! What a creative interpretation for a yummy dessert bar!
I love anything with salt and chocolate – yum!
Loved reading your NY trip recap – Eataly had to be amazing!! Just the smells alone!
ha. you went a little crazy with these! but i like it
These look addicting! I’ve seen that Fleur de Sel Caramel Sauce from Trader Joe’s and it looked too dangerous to buy. Might have to make an exception, though 😉 Have a great week, hun!
I would eat these for a snack, and breakfast, and dinner and lunch…
Oh my gosh, I want to run to TJs right now so I can make these! DELICIOUSNESSSSSSSSS! Definitely the perfect late night snack
Ah, this is just perfect for a late snack. Love the caramel sauce, got to find that next time I go to TJ’s. Thanks Kerstin!
I feel like these cookie bars were invented just for me! I love salty and sweet together, and now I have to find some chocolate-covered potato chips.
Be still my heart these sound positively sinful! Chocolate covered potato chips? I’ll see you in my dreams.
OKay, that looks super dangerous…as in addictive. I would finish the whole batch in one night!
look at you, encouraging midnight eating. i love it.
this is a treat i’d be found robotically eating in front of the tv, crumbs all down my front. excellent.
Happy Tuesday!
Yummy! I love chocolate and potato chips, it feels like such a bad thing but they taste so good, I would imagine these snack bars don’t last long!
I had no idea what late night snack was, but I think the idea of using chocolate covered potato chips in a recipe is genius. You always have the most sinful sounding bar recipes and this one is no exception.
I love Trader Joes! And these look absolutely delicious!
This is like a Compost Cookie gone wild! Bars make everything better!
I’ve been wanting to try that Ben and Jerry’s ice cream!! And now I want to try these!
They sound incredible!
I agree, TJs is the best. Your lat night snack creation looks quite tasty!
Thanks to all! And yes, the Fleur de Sel Caramel Sauce from TJs is sooo addicting
Bianca – Cocoa almond spread sounds delicious! I’ll have to look for it
[…] 6, 2012 Today’s recipe is brought to you by the letters T and J. I love to gush about the unique products at Trader Joe’s and often find inspiration just wandering their aisles. Last weekend I stumbled upon this […]