German Chocolate Bars with Salted Caramel sauce

I got the recipe for these bars from my friend Angie over at a lil country sugar.... you all know Angie...I have blogged about her before..she is an absolute wonderful cook...check out her blog here.  Angie sure knows her way around the kitchen.... thanks Angie for this wonderful recipe....
These bars were easy and yummy.  I did make some changes to her recipe.  I added 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips to the top, 1/3 cup coconut to the top & a 1/3 cup nuts (I used sliced almonds & pecans to the recipe).  She used caramel ice cream topping (and I forgot to buy some at the store) so I decided to invent a caramel sauce... so you can use either they are both delicious.... I like my caramel a little "salty"... you know that sweet & salt thing together...YUM... but if you are not a fan of salty caramel just put in a slight pinch.  I cooked my bars for 45 minutes, but I started checking them at 35.  The outside was a light golden brown and the center was still a little runny when I moved the pan, but they firmed up upon sitting.  I let them cool about an hour before making the caramel sauce (they were still slightly warm when I served them).  Also when making these instead of dirtying 2 separate bowls & sets of beaters, I just ran them under hot tap water between steps (less dishes to do and no cross contamination since they were getting baked...safety first :)  Enjoy these bars...


German Chocolate Bars with Salted Caramel sauce


1 box chocolate cake mix
1 cup butter, melted & divided
3 eggs, divided
1 pkg cream cheese, softened (I use 1/3 less fat kind)
1 T. vanilla
1 lb. confectioners sugar
1 1/3 cups shredded coconut, divided
1 1/3 cups nuts ( I used 1/2 chopped pecans & sliced almonds), divided
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips


Preheat oven to 350.
Spray a 13 X 9 pan with non stick spray. In large bowl place cake mix, 1/2 cup butter, and 1 egg.  Mix well with electric mixer.  Pat mixture into the bottom of the pan.  Rinse bowl and beaters under hot water.  Add cream cheese, beating well with mixer until fluffy.  Add in eggs and vanilla beat well.  Beat in 1/2 cup butter and powdered sugar.  Stir in 1 cup coconut & 1 cup nuts.  Pour mixture over cake mixture.  Sprinkle top of batter with remaining 1/3 cup each coconuts and nuts, and 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips.  Bake at 350 for 45 minutes (start checking at 35 minutes) or until outside is golden brown (center will be soft but will firm up upon cooling). Remove from oven and let cool around an hour.  Make caramel sauce.


Salted Caramel Sauce

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/8 cup water
1/2 t kosher salt
1/2 t cornstarch
1 t vanilla
1 t butter
1 t half and half


In saucepan add brown sugar, corn syrup, water, salt & cornstarch.  Stir well and cook over medium heat until bubbly.  Cook for 4-5 minutes.  Turn off heat and add vanilla, butter and half and half.  Whisk until butter is melted and sauce is combined.  Drizzle over pieces of the german chocolate bars.  Enjoy