Description
These Peanut-Caramel Bars with Chocolate are layered dessert bars featuring a buttery shortbread base, gooey caramel mixed with crunchy peanuts, and a smooth chocolate topping. Like a homemade candy bar, they’re rich, sweet, and totally irresistible.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp light corn syrup or honey
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup roasted salted peanuts
- 1 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp coconut oil or butter (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper.
- Cream together softened butter and sugar. Mix in flour, salt, and vanilla until crumbly.
- Press mixture into prepared pan and bake for 18–20 minutes until lightly golden. Let cool.
- In a saucepan, combine sweetened condensed milk, brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup. Simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and golden, about 8–10 minutes.
- Stir in peanuts, then pour over cooled crust. Spread evenly and let set for 10–15 minutes.
- Melt chocolate chips with coconut oil until smooth. Pour over caramel layer and smooth with a spatula.
- Chill in the fridge for 1 hour. Let sit at room temperature before slicing into bars with a sharp knife.
Notes
- Swap peanuts for almonds or cashews for variety.
- Sprinkle flaky sea salt over chocolate for a salted caramel version.
- Mix peanut butter into caramel for added richness.
- Add crushed pretzels under caramel for extra crunch and salt.
- Let bars sit at room temp before slicing for clean cuts.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 21g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
