Caramel-Peanut Butter Bars

By carvalhohm

Ingredients

• Cookie Base:
• 1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) sugar cookie mix
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1 egg
• 15 miniature chocolate-covered peanut butter cup candies, coarsely chopped
• Filling:
• 36 caramels (from 14-oz bag), unwrapped
• 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)
• 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup peanuts
• Topping:
• 1 container (1 lb) milk chocolate frosting
• 1/2 cup peanuts, chopped

Details

Servings 36
Adapted from bettycrocker.com

Preparation

Step 1

1 Heat oven to 350°. Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter and egg until soft dough forms. Stir in candies. Press dough in bottom of pan. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until light golden brown.

2 Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat caramels and milk over medium heat, stirring constantly, until caramels are melted. Stir in peanut butter. Heat to boiling. Cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in 1/2 cup peanuts. Spread over warm cookie base. Cool completely, about 2 hours.

3 Spread frosting evenly over filling. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled. For bars, cut 9 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

Skip the cooking spray, and instead line the pan with quick-release foil for easy cleanup and removal of bars from the pan. Cut bars in half again to make bite-size squares for a dessert buffet.

Serving Size: 1 Bar Calories260 ( Calories from Fat100), Total Fat11g (Saturated Fat4g, Trans Fat1 1/2g ), Cholesterol15mg Sodium160mg Total Carbohydrate35g (Dietary Fiber0g Sugars25g ), Protein4g