PEANUT CARAMEL BARS RECIPES

Steps:

• Brush a 9-inch square baking pan with butter; line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a pot over medium heat. Add marshmallows and salt; cook, stirring, until melted. Remove from heat; stir in cereal. Press mixture into prepared pan in an even layer. Let cool 15 minutes.
• In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 3 tablespoons water. Cover and cook over medium heat, swirling pan a few times, until sugar has dissolved and mixture comes to a boil. Uncover and cook, undisturbed, until mixture turns amber, about 3 minutes more. Remove from heat. Carefully add cream and 2 tablespoons butter (it will bubble up); stir until smooth. Let cool completely, about 1 hour. Whisk in peanut butter. Spread mixture evenly over crust and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Melt chocolate and remaining 3 tablespoons butter in a small heat-proof bowl set over (but not in) a pot of simmering water, stirring until smooth. Spread evenly over caramel layer. Let stand 5 minutes, then sprinkle with salt and refrigerate until set, at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours. Lift from pan using overhangs. Using a serrated knife, cut into squares. Refrigerate in an airtight container between pieces of parchment up to 3 days.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil, leaving foil overhanging at 2 opposite sides of pan; spray with cooking spray. Make peanut butter cookie dough as directed on pouch. Press dough evenly in bottom of pan.
• Make chocolate chip cookie dough as directed on pouch. Drop dough by spoonfuls over peanut butter cookie dough. Using metal spatula, evenly spread dough to cover peanut butter cookie dough layer.
• Bake 25 to 28 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and edges are set. Remove from oven to cooling rack. Cool 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat caramels and whipping cream over medium heat, stirring constantly, 5 to 10 minutes or until caramels are melted. Remove from heat. Spread over warm cookie base. Bake about 5 minutes or until caramel is set in center. Return to cooling rack.
• Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over top. Let stand 5 minutes; spread melted chips evenly over top. Refrigerate bars until chocolate is firm, about 3 hours.
• Let bars stand 30 minutes before cutting. Remove bars from pan by lifting foil; peel foil away. Cut into 8 rows by 5 rows. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.