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    Home Β» Recipes Β» Brownies/ Blondies/Cookie Bars

    Caramel Chocolate Peanut Bars

    By Wendy Sondov Β· Published: Jan 24, 2016 Β· Modified: Jul 27, 2018 Β· This post may contain affiliate links Β· As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    If you are the motivated type who eats nothing but salad in January, I suggest you pin these Caramel Chocolate Peanut Bars for February. For the rest of us, wait out the snow storms with something delicious in hand. Caramel Chocolate Peanut Bars are just the kind of chewy, gooey comfort food this crazy weather calls for.

    Caramel Chocolate Peanut BarsHere in St. Louis, we only had a few inches of snow which are currently melting, turning the Midwest into a giant mud puddle. Though my Sheltie, Pax, finds mud wrestling the optimal dog park activity, I find it a mess. Luckily, we have a hand-held shower head which is very convenient for removing the daily accumulation of mudscicles from his belly. If only I could train Pax to do his own dog towel laundry!
    My preferred location for waiting out winter in general, is sitting in front of the fireplace, fire crackling, with a good book in my hands. These days, most of the books I have piled up for perusing are cookbooks. Specifically, baking books. Which probably is no surprise. Some of the cookbooks really do read like novels, just with recipes inserted into the storyline. Sometimes it’s the author’s tales that draw me in. Other times, it’s the photographs. In the case of Rose Levy Beranbaum, it is often both. I was recently flipping through one of her out of print cookbooks, Rose’s Christmas Cookies, when a picture of bar cookies covered in nuts and chunks of chocolate, glistening with caramel, made it impossible to turn the page. These Caramel Chocolate Peanut Bars went to the top of my baking list.

    Caramel Chocolate Peanut Bars

    This was one of those recipes that left me puzzled. When I make something from a cookbook from a talented and knowledgeable baker, and it doesn’t turn out as expected, I automatically assume that I did something wrong. Did I leave out an ingredient? Mismeasure? Not follow the method properly? The cookbook photos of these bars had me hooked. So I baked again, being super diligent. Again, the results did not make me happy. I did eventually get to happy, but it took some recipe tweaking.

    Caramel Chocolate Peanut Bars

    The original recipe calls for 12 tablespoons of butter in the cookie base. After baking, the recipe indicates that the overly buttery bars should be allowed to sit on paper towels to drain off the excess. Maybe there is a complex chemical reaction involved in using too much butter, then draining it out? Tweak one was to reduce the butter. I worried that maybe that would affect the texture of the base. Instead, the resulting cookie base is tender and buttery, without being greasy. Rather than using a greased pan, which only added to the problem, I found that lining the baking pan with parchment paper kept the bars from sticking and provided handles which were very helpful for lifting out of the pan onto the cutting board after baking. Being a self-taught baker, I never knew there was a trick to lining a baking pan. I always used twoΒ  overlapping sheets of parchment. Take a look at Cindy's video to learn how to line your baking pans like a pro!

    Caramel Chocolate Peanut Bars
    Tweak two was only a matter of adjusting expectations. The original recipe claims to stay fresh for up to three weeks. I was excited that I had found a recipe that might work for my slow traveling Navy care packages. Not so. Caramel Chocolate Peanut Bars are amazingly melty, and gooey for a day. The bars continue to be deliciously ultra-chewy for two or three days. For up to a week, the flavors and chew still entice and delight. After that, I was not impressed.

    Caramel Chocolate Peanut Bars
    Caramel Chocolate Peanut Bars are chewy, comfort treats. Stored at room temperature in an airtight container, in layers separated with wax paper, these bars satisfy a sweet tooth and sooth the soul for up to one week. Just what we need in this crazy weather!

    Stay warm and safe!

    Caramel Chocolate Peanut Bars

    Caramel Chocolate Peanut Bars

    Caramel Chocolate Peanut Bars

    These chewy, gooey bars are a cross between a candy bar and a cookie.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 16
    Calories: 391kcal
    Author: Wendy Sondov
    Adapted From: "Rose's Christmas Cookies" by Rose Levy Beranbaum

    Ingredients

    Caramel sauce

    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • Β½ cup corn syrup
    • 1 Β½ tablespoon unsalted butter
    • ΒΎ cup heavy cream
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

    Cookie base

    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup quick-cook oats
    • ΒΎ cup brown sugar packed
    • Β½ teaspoon baking soda
    • β…› teaspoon salt
    • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
    • 6 ounces semisweet chocolate chopped into ½” pieces
    • 1 cup peanuts I use lightly salted, coarsely chopped

    Instructions

    Caramel sauce

    • In a medium saucepan, over medium-low heat, stir constantly to combine sugar and corn syrup until boiling (about 3 minutes). Without stirring, allow the mixture to boil for about 5 minutes until deep amber (370Β° F on a candy thermometer).
    • Remove the pan from the heat and mix in the butter. Gradually mix in the cream.
    • Return the saucepan to the stove and, stirring constantly, boil on medium-high heat for about 1 Β½ minutes (240Β°F on a candy thermometer).
    • Pour the caramel sauce into a 2 cup measuring cup. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then mix in the vanilla.

    Cookie base

    • Preheat the oven to 350Β° F. Line a 9” x 13” metal baking pan with parchment paper. Allow for some overhang for easy lifting after baking.
    • In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, and melted butter.
    • Press the dough evenly over the bottom of the prepared pan. The base will be thin. A sheet of wax paper over the dough helps to distribute.
    • Bake for 10 minutes then remove from the oven.

    Completing the bars

    • Sprinkle the chopped chocolate and peanuts over the base. Top with the prepared caramel sauce.
    • Return to the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the caramel is bubbling.
    • Cool the chews completely in the pan.
    • When ready to cut, lift out of the pan using the parchment overhang, and slice into bars on a cutting board.
    • Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 weeks.

    Notes

    Packing tips
    • These chews should only be shipped in cool weather.
    • Wrap two bars, bottoms together, in a strip of wax paper, then wrap in plastic wrap. Place a column of wrapped bundles in a freezer weight ziplock bag or airtight container.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 391kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 71mg | Potassium: 180mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 421IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheMondayBox or tag #themondaybox!

    Caramel Chocolate Peanut Bars

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    Comments

    1. Miz Helen

      August 09, 2016 at 12:05 pm

      Who could resist these amazing bars, yum!! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday today. Have a great day and come back soon!
      Miz Helen

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        August 12, 2016 at 5:25 pm

        Thank YOU, Miz Helen for hosting and for your kind words! I love chewy bars like these!

        Reply
    2. Frugal Hausfrau

      August 07, 2016 at 9:19 pm

      Everything about these bars are amazing! Gorgeous pics, too - and they've really set off a craving! Thanks for sharing with us at Throwback Thursday!

      Mollie

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        August 08, 2016 at 7:51 am

        Thanks, Mollie! Besides the flavor,I love the chewiness of these bars! Photos are something I am working hard to improve, so your compliment means a lot! Thank you.

        Reply
    3. Reeni

      February 04, 2016 at 7:50 pm

      Thank you for doing all that experimenting so we can have these scrumptious bars! The method does sound odd. My favorite place this time of the year is in front of a fire too. Hopefully with a sweet treat in hand like this! They look quite delicious!

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        February 10, 2016 at 10:56 pm

        Thanks, Reeni! The photo in the cookbook of the original bars looked so luscious that I had to figure out a way to make them taste delicious. I have no idea why the recipe called for putting in all that butter then draining it out, but was delighted to find that I could just leave it out in the first place and end up with "curl up in front of a fireplace" worthy bars! πŸ™‚

        Reply
    4. Chris Scheuer

      January 29, 2016 at 2:26 pm

      Oh Wendy, these look wonderful. I'm so happy you tweaked the recipe to perfection!

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        February 10, 2016 at 1:32 pm

        Thanks, Chris! I was obsessed. The photo in the cookbook made it impossible to leave this recipe and walk away. I NEEDED a bite and that bite HAD to taste as good as it looked! πŸ™‚

        Reply
    5. saltandserenity

      January 27, 2016 at 9:01 am

      Caramel anything is my weakness. These must be amazing with the salty peanuts.
      So surprising to hear that the recipe as written wasn't perfect. The fact that Rose Levy Beranbaum can make mistakes makes me love her even more!
      Even though I don't really love dogs, sometimes I wish I had one so i would be forced to go outside in the winter and walk. Then I would feel less guilty about eating these!

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        February 10, 2016 at 1:24 pm

        Until recently, I didn't know that I had a weakness for caramel. Then I made my first batch of homemade caramel sauce. Whoa! Baking is like opening Pandoras Box. There are more and more things that I now have a weakness for. Too bad none of those things involves exercise!

        Reply
    6. Monica

      January 26, 2016 at 10:01 am

      We got over 2 feet of snow, Wendy. I was prepared and we ate (a lot!) but my oh my, these decadent bars would have hit the spot on Saturday & Sunday!! That texture and those chunks are driving me mad right now! : ) And I'm so glad you tweaked and made it work better. I know just what you mean about recipes not turning out and odd instructions and wondering if you're missing something...

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        February 07, 2016 at 10:57 pm

        Wow, Monica! Over 2 feet of snow! I am glad you and your family were safe and cozy, but that is a lot of snow shoveling! Something sweet and slightly decadent is somehow so soothing in times of stress....or maybe that's just my emotional eating talking! πŸ˜‰ Playing with and tweaking recipes is part of the fun when it works and part of the frustration when it doesn't! πŸ™‚

        Reply
    7. Tricia @ Saving room for dessert

      January 25, 2016 at 5:07 pm

      This is crazy weather and these would be the perfect treat after shoveling snow! I don't think they will last a week however πŸ™‚ Have a lovely week!

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        February 07, 2016 at 8:17 pm

        Thanks, Tricia! One day shoveling snow in three layers of down, the next day out comes the sun and all you need is mud boots and a windbreaker! Crazy weather indead! Caramel Bars have a calming effect. πŸ˜‰

        Reply
    8. Ashley

      January 25, 2016 at 3:50 pm

      haha our dog is the opposite - she HATES the snow / slush and therefore takes forever to do her "business" in it. Drives me mad. I don't want to stand out there in the cold for long! lol

      These bars look outrageously good Wendy!

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        February 07, 2016 at 7:58 pm

        Thanks, Ashley! I used to have a Shihtzu who refused to walk on snow. She would lie down with her feet in the air like a dead possum! I love my Scottish cold weather dog! πŸ˜‰

        Reply

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