Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Peanut Butter Caramel Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars AKA Husband Stealer Squares



As you can see by my lack of posts, this summer has been super duper busy!  I hope to have more time to share more recipes soon, but I'm gonna keep this short and sweet(!) today, and just get straight to the goods!

The original name of these bars is a liiiitttle lengthy, "Peanut Butter Caramel Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars" whew!  This past weekend these amazing, absolutely decadent squares were renamed" Husband Stealer Squares".  We might've been drinking when this name came to be, I'll never tell, but the name shall live on!

Peanut Butter Caramel Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars AKA Husband Stealer Squares
Recipe adapted from:Mom On Timeout

Caramel Filling
1 bag (11 oz/300 grams ish) caramels
14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
4 Tablespoons butter

Cookie Dough
3/4 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter, creamy or smooth - your choice
2 eggs
1 Tablespoons vanilla
2 cups flour
1 c old fashioned oats
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cup chocolate chips
1 cup Reese's peanut butter chips (optional - I didn't have any and skipped it - they would just be extra peanut buttery)
1 cup Scor toffee bits

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
Unwrap caramels and place in a small saucepan with butter and sweetened condensed milk.
Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until caramels have fully melted and the mixture is nice and smooth.  Set aside to cool slightly.
For the cookie dough:  Combine flour, oats, baking powder, and salt in a small mixing bowl, and set aside.  Cream butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl. Add peanut butter and continue mixing.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Add the flour mixture slowly stirring until well combined.
Stir in the chocolate chips, peanut butter chips (optional), and toffee bits.
Spread approximately 2/3 of the dough on the bottom of the prepared baking dish, using wet hands/fingertips to get it evenly spread out.
Slowly pour caramel mixture evenly over the dough.  Drop the remaining cookie dough on top by the teaspoon. It doesn't have to be perfect!
Bake for about 35-40 minutes,until lightly browned around the edges and over the top.  Let cool completely and then cut into bars.

Enjoy!