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    Home » Desserts » Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

    Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

    Published: June 24, 2019 · Jill Baird · 2 Comments

    Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars with oatmeal cookie bars

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    These Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars are a variation of the magic cookie bars that everyone loves.  They're an oatmeal cookie bar with a caramel sauce, peanut butter spread, chocolate chips, and a wonderful oatmeal cookie bar topping.

    how to make caramel sauce
    Jump to:
    • How to Melt Caramel Sauce for Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
    • Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

    How to Melt Caramel Sauce for Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

    There are few ways you can make a caramel sauce for cookies and/or ice cream topping. 

    You can make a simple caramel recipe and cook it just under the softball stage, you can purchase pre-made caramel sauce, (Mrs. Richardson's caramel sauce is the best for this recipe.  It's smooth, creamy and has a perfect consistency)  or you can melt down some wrapped caramel candy. 

    For this recipe, I melted down some caramel candy.  It was easy, it only took a few minutes, and turned out perfect for this cookie bar recipe.

    The first thing you will want to do is unwrap the caramels. Add them to a microwave safe bowl, add 1 teaspoon of evaporated milk and melt the caramels on 50% heat for 1 minute.  Stir the caramels.

    Be sure to stir the caramels every time you melt them in the microwave. Some caramels retain their shape even though they are melted.  You also want to incorporate the evaporated milk in with the caramel. 

    Cook for 30 seconds on 50% heat and stir, repeat 4-6 times or until the caramel is smooth and all melted.

    step by step instructions for making caramel peanut butter cookie bars

    How to Make Layered Cookie Bars

    This cookie bar recipe has a few steps but each one of the steps is easy and only takes a few minutes.  The result is these incredible Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars.  One of the best cookie bar recipes of all time!

    1. Oatmeal cookie bar recipe:  This cookie bar recipe has oatmeal, flour, butter, and sugar... the perfect combo! You are only going to use about ¾ of the recipe on the bottom of the cookie sheet.  You will save the last ¼ oatmeal cookie bar recipe for the crumble topping after you've added all the other ingredients. Bake for 13 minutes.
    2. Peanut butter mixture:  This is a simple mixture, only 2 ingredients. Add the white chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl, melt on 50% power, stir, and repeat for 4-6 cycles or until the white chocolate chips are melted. (You can also substitute the white chocolate chips for regular milk chocolate chips in this cookie bar recipe. Add the peanut butter to the melted chocolate chips and stir until smooth.
    3. Caramel Sauce: I added the instructions to the caramel sauce recipe above, or you can use the Mrs. Richardsons caramel sauce which turns out amazing every time.
    4. Add the chocolate chips.  I like to use Guittard Chocolate chips because they are BIG.  For whatever reason, it's really fun to have huge chocolate chips in this Peanut Butter Caramel Cookie Bar Recipe.
    5. Add the remaining oatmeal cookie bar recipe to the top of the cookie bars and bake for an additional 15 minutes.  It makes a delicious crumble topping!
    6. Bake for another 8-10 minutes or until it is just golden on the edges. 
    Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars on parchment paper

    If you love cookie bars, here are some of the Best Cookie Bar Recipes:

    • Coconut Cookie Bars
    • Raspberry Cookie Bars
    • Coconut Lime Sugar Cookie Bars
    • Orange Cookie Bars
    • Gingerbread Cookie Bars
    • Coconut Cookie Bars
    • Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars
    • Cadbury Cookie Bars
    • Reeses Peanut Butter Cereal Bars
    • More Cookie Bars
    Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars with chocolate chips
    Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars with oatmeal cookie bars
    Print

    Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

    These Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars are a variation of the magic cookie bars that everyone loves.  They're an oatmeal cookie bar with a caramel sauce, peanut butter spread, chocolate chips, and a wonderful oatmeal cookie bar topping.
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 25 minutes
    cooling time 1 hour
    Total Time 35 minutes
    Servings 24 people
    Calories 518kcal

    Ingredients

    Oatmeal Cookie Bar Recipe

    • 2 cups Butter
    • 2 ¼ cups Brown Sugar
    • 3 cups Oatmeal regular rolled oats
    • 3 cups Flour all-purpose
    • 2 teaspoon Baking Soda
    • 1 teaspoon salt

    Caramel Sauce Recipe

    • 1 pound Caramels you can purchase pre-made caramel sauce, (Mrs. Richardson's caramel sauce is the best for this recipe.
    • 1 teaspoon Evaporated milk

    Peanut Butter Sauce Recipe

    • 1 pkg White chocolate chips
    • 1 cup Peanut butter Smooth

    Other Ingredients

    • 1 package Chocolate chips real, milk chocolate chips

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees

    Oatmeal Cookie Bar Recipe--Crust

    • In a large electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the oatmeal, flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix until all ingredients are incorporated. The mixture will be a bit crumbly.  
    • Press the cookie bar mixture into a large baking sheet, covering the bottom of the pan. Bake in a preheated oven on 350 for 8 minutes.

    Peanut Butter Sauce Recipe

    • While the cookie crust is baking, add the white chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl, melt on 50% power for 30 seconds, stir, and repeat for 4-6 cycles or until the white chocolate chips are melted. (You can also substitute the white chocolate chips for regular milk chocolate chips in this cookie bar recipe. 
    • Add the peanut butter to the melted chocolate chips and stir until smooth. 
    • Drop by spoonfuls onto the cookie bar crust.  Spread with a knife to cover the entire cookie bar crust. 

    Caramel Sauce Recipe

    • The first thing you do is unwrap the caramels. Add them to a microwave safe bowl, add 1 teaspoon of evaporated milk and melt the caramels on 50% heat for 1 minute.  Stir the caramels.
      Be sure to stir the caramels every time you melt them in the microwave. Some caramels retain their shape even though they are melted.  You also want to incorporate the evaporated milk in with the caramel. 
      Cook for 30 seconds on 50% heat and stir, repeat 4-6 times or until the caramel is smooth and all melted.
    • Drizzle the caramel sauce onto the peanut butter mixture.  

    Finishing Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

    • Sprinkle the milk chocolate chips on the caramel sauce. Sprinkle the remaining cookie crumb mixture on the cookie bars. Bake at 350 for another 8-10 minutes or until it is just golden on the edges.  Cool for about an hour before cutting. Cut into 24 squares. 
       

    Nutrition

    Calories: 518kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 462mg | Potassium: 203mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 51g | Vitamin A: 517IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 1mg

    More Amazing Desserts Your Family will Love...

    • Caramel For Cinnamon Rolls
    • Homemade Caramel Candies
    • Caramel Popcorn Recipes
    • Coconut Caramel Popcorn
    • Caramel Cream Cheese Apple Dip
    • More Dessert Recipes
    • More Cookie Bar Recipes

    If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest,  feel free to leave a comment and photo there too.  Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!

    Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars with caramel sauce and peanut butter spread

    These Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars are a variation of the magic cookie bars that everyone loves.  They're an oatmeal cookie bar with a caramel sauce, peanut butter spread, chocolate chips, and a wonderful oatmeal cookie bar topping.

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    54 shares