Salted Caramel Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Bars

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup

(12 tablespoons, 6 ounces) butter

1 cup

packed light or dark brown sugar

1/2 cup

granulated sugar

1 tsp

baking soda

1/4 tsp

table salt

large eggs

1 tsp

vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups

all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups

chocolate chips

-ounce bag soft caramels, unwrapped (not caramel sauce)

2 tbsp

milk or cream

1/8

to 1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt (optional)