Grease your 9x13 pan and preheat the oven to 375°F. It’s important to get everything ready before starting. 🏡

Mix the flour, baking soda, and salt in one bowl. Then, beat together softened butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in another bowl until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, all while mixing. Gradually fold in the dry ingredients and stir in the chocolate chips. 🍫💛

Spread half the cookie dough in the prepared pan. Pop it in the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, just until it sets. This will be the base of your bars! 🍪

Melt the caramels and evaporated milk using a double boiler. Stir constantly until smooth, then add peanut butter and mix thoroughly. The result is a rich, creamy caramel sauce you’ll pour over the baked base. 🍮✨

Drop spoonfuls of the remaining cookie dough over the caramel layer. It doesn’t need to cover it all; the caramel peeking through makes it even more enticing. 💛

Bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the top layer is nicely golden. Remove from the oven and let the bars cool completely before slicing. This step is crucial to avoid messy cutting! 🔥