Caramel Bars {Secret Recipe Club}

Every month I get excited about getting my blog assignment from Debbi, my group's leader for the Secret Recipe Club.   I love clicking on the link and then getting immersed in a blog filled with deliciousness and then trying to narrow it down to one recipe to make. 

This month was a tough one for me.  My blog assignment was Cook with Sara.   Sara has an amazing blog with so many wonderful looking recipes.  Sara and I have a lot in common: a love for baking and eating =o), learning to cook at a young age and a Mom who showed her the joys of making a delicious meal.

But here's the problem.  Sara had too many recipes that I wanted to make!  It was so hard to narrow it down to just one.   Her Caramel Toffee Crunch Cheesecake was on the top of my list, but I knew I'd eat the entire thing by myself so I used all the will power I could muster up not to make it.  Her Greek Layer Dip is now on my to make list (and I'm okay with eating it all by myself!)

Then I saw these Caramel Bars and I knew these were going to be what I made.  I like to make something that I can put half of in the freezer for later.  (Because I seriously will eat them all.)  And I love caramel!  So these were perfect! 

Caramel Bars

Source: Cook with Sara

* 1 box of yellow cake mix (I used French vanilla because that's what I had)

* 2 eggs

* 1/3 cup oil

* 1/2 cup butter

* 1 can sweetened condensed milk

* 1 bag of caramels (about 32 caramels or 8 ounces)

* 1 cup milk chocolate chips

In a medium saucepan, melt butter, sweetened condensed milk and caramels and stir until melted and blended.  Remove from heat and set aside to cool.  I used Caramel Bits because they are my favorite =o)  Have you made cookies with these bad boys yet?

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together cake mix, eggs and oil.  Stir in chocolate chips.

Line a 9x13 inch pan with parchment paper.  I love parchment paper.  Whoever invented it really should win a prize if they haven't already.  Like a Nobel Peace Prize or something.  It brings me lots of peace =o)

Spread about 2/3 of the batter in the pan.  This was kind of tricky because I didn't think it would be nearly enough dough.  But it managed to work.

Bake for 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.

Pour caramel sauce over cookie.  Top with remaining dough.

Bake for 25 - 30 minutes.  Remove from oven and cool.  The recipe said to cool for about 15  minutes and then cut.  Yah, that was a giant mess.  They were sticky and hot and so didn't want me to cut them.  So I cooled them completely before I cut them.  But I have to admit, they were amazing when they were warm!!!

So I waited until they were completely cooled before I cut into them.  I LOVE THEM!  They are so good.  The caramel is amazing and gooey but not drippy gooey.  I hate making recipes and the caramel runs all over the place.  This doesn't.  It's firm but not hard.  Perfect.

Definitely a keeper!   Enjoy!

 

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No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

This recipe has been done a million times. It's nothing new. But it's delicious and we had to make them for the peanut butter lover in my family.  They are easy and totally delicious!  Good combination, right?

No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

Source: All Recipes

* 1 cup melted butter

* 2 cups graham cracker crumbs

* 1 cup creamy peanut butter

* 2 cups powdered sugar

* 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (I used a combination of milk and semi-sweet)

* 4 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter

In a bowl, combine butter, graham cracker crumbs, peanut butter and powdered sugar and mix well.

Press into an ungreased 9x9 pan.  (The recipe says a 9x13 pan but I'm all about thick and huge desserts!)

In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips and additional peanut butter, mixing after 30 second spurts.  Spread over the top of the peanut butter mixture.  Let cool so the chocolate can harden (about an hour in the refrigerator.)

They are delicious.  To change up the recipe, try making No Bake Biscoff Bars.  (Yowza!)

 

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Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars {Secret Recipe Club}

October has been an absolute blur for me.  I hate that.  My family has been dealing with the loss of my Grandmother so this month's Secret recipe Club reveal day seemed to just appear out of no where.  good thing I had my recipe picked out weeks ago from my assigned blog Life's Simple Measures.

I was super excited to get my assignment too!  I've been following Life's Simple Measures for awhile now and have had some of Jess's posts bookmarked with a big "make me now" post it on them.  How does a person decide what to make when there are so many good recipes to choose from?  Some yummy ones are:

Scotcharoos

Key Lime Pie Fudge

Chocolate Hazelnut-Crunch Donuts

Peach Crumb Bars

It was a no brainer for me on what to make.  Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars.  'Nuff said, right?

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars

Source: Life's Simple Measures

Cookie Dough

* 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

*  3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

* 1 tsp. vanilla extract

* 2 cups all purpose flour

* 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

* 2 cups mini chocolate chips

Topping

* 1 cup creamy peanut butter

* 2/3 cup milk chocolate chips

In a large bowl mix together butter and light brown sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes.)  Add vanilla and mix until combined. 

With the mixer on low speed, alternate adding the flour and the sweetened condensed milk and mix until combined.  Stir in chocolate chips.

Line an 8x8 inch pan with parchment paper.  Press the cookie dough into the pan.  If the cookie dough is sticky, lightly flour your hands. 

Cover the bars with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight until firm.

For the topping, combine peanut butter and chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and heat until smooth.  Spread over the cookie dough and chill for at least 1 hour or until firm.

This what happened when the phone rang and I left the room for too long...

Now here's the trick - try not to eat them all in one sitting!

They were really good!  I can't believe I'm saying this, but they were super sweet.  Like, holy heck, I might go into a sugar coma sweet.  But my friends who love cookie dough said they were amazing. 

I've had so much fun being a part of this amazing club!  If you missed previous months' posts, here they are:

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie

Double Chocolate Snowball Cookies

 Double Layer Oreo Cake Bars

Bannock: Skillet Fried Native American Bread

Beautiful Beet Bundt Cake  

French Butter Cookies  

Puff Pastry Mini Apple Bites  

Egg Shaped Brownies  

Pecan Pie Bars  

Cinnamon Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars  

Double Chocolate Caramel Mousse Cookies  

Chai Tea Bread  

Cinnabun Cheesecake  

Marble Cake with White Chocolate Glaze  

Mt. Bachelor Bars  

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip 

Ummm... apparently I like desserts!  Ha!  I'm pathetic! 

Ready to look and see what everyone else has made for today? Me too!
 
 

No Bake Biscoff Bars

How have I not gotten on the Biscoff bandwagon before now?!?!  I've seen it all over blogland but I wasn't sure really what it was.  It sounded weird and I wasn't sure if it was like Nutella.  I know so many people love it.  But I'm not a huge fan.

Then I won this adorable apron giveaway from Dorothy over on Crazy for Crust.  She was so sweet.  She even added some of her Biscoff Bark and I was sold.  But then life got busy and I forget about it.  Then I saw Renee's post for Biscoff Bars and once again I thought "go buy that NOW!"  And this time, I did.  =o)

You've heard of Biscoff, right?  I was a little surprised at work when so many of my co-workers hadn't heard of it yet.  I thought I was the only one in the dark.  Good to know I'm not alone =o)  But if you haven't, it's like peanut butter but without nuts.  It's made with cookies!  Yeah, you heard that right, Biscoff cookies.  Made into butter!  Good golly.  Who ever came up with this idea deserves a medal of some kind!

I'm kind of weird when it comes to food.  I just have to tell you that.  So I was a little nervous about trying biscoff for the first time.  I opened the jar and smelled it.  (Because isn't that what you do???)  Yum.  Then I very reluctantly tried it.  Yowza!  Why haven't I made a million recipes with this stuff?!  It's awesome.  And here's the best part (or maybe the worst, either way...) my kids loved it too!

So look out.  I'm warning you now.  A million biscoff recipes are on their way.  So here's our first...

No Bake Biscoff Bars 

Source: Singing with Birds 

* 1 cup butter, melted

* 2 cups graham cracker crumbs, finely chopped

* 2 cups powdered sugar

* 1 cup + 4 Tbsp. Biscoff spread

* 1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips

In a bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, melted butter and biscoff.  It will be a pasty, delicious concoction of goodness.

Press into an ungreased 9x9 pan.  I did the parchment paper thing because I wasn't sure if it would be easy to take these out of the pan or not. 

Melt chocolate chips and remaining 4 Tbsp. of biscoff in the microwave, stirring after 30 second spurts.  Evenly spread over biscoff mixture and refrigerate until firm.

I can't even tell you how amazing they are.  No wait, yes I can... THEY ARE AMAZING!  If you haven't tried Biscoff yet, go buy it.  NOW!

Enjoy!

 

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{Secret Recipe Club} Double Layer Oreo Cake Bars

It's that time again - Secret Recipe Club time.   If you still haven't heard of the Secret Recipe Club, where have you been, welcome.  =o)

Our fearless leader Amanda from Amanda's Cookin' stepped down and we have a new Top Dog, April from Angel's Homestead.  Welcome and thanks for taking over so we can continue doing this amazing challenge/club each month.  And another thank you to Angela from Big Bear's Wife for guiding this group!

My assignment this month was The Avid Appetite.   Rachel says that three years ago she couldn't even boil water.  She was determined to be a "kick ass wife who could not only watch football but could also make a mean meal anytime.  And I think she succeeded.  She has made some amazing dishes!  Some that stood out to me were her:

Greek Layer Dip (pure heaven)

Pumpkin Butter (I'm going to make this this fall)

Grilled Zucchini Coins (I would like to eat this right now for breakfast!)

Ooey Gooey Chocolate Marshmallow Oat Bars

Jelly Bean Brown Sugar Cookies

Oreos are my son's favorite things. He loves everything oreos so when I saw this recipe I knew it was the one I had to make. And he was eager to help me! (I love that!)

Double Layer Oreo Cake Bars

Source: The Avid Appetite

* 1 box chocolate cake mix

* 1 box yellow cake mix

* 2 sticks butter, room temperature

* 2 eggs

* Oreo cookies (2 sleeves), crushed

* 1 can sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line a 9x13 baking pan with aluminum foil and spray generously with baking spray.  (I use the kind with flour in it.  Works great!)

In a bowl, mix 1 stick butter, 1 egg and the chocolate cake mix.  It will be pretty thick, like dough.

Press the chocolate layer into the bottom of the lined 9x13 inch pan.

Now mix up the yellow cake mix.  Mix 1 egg, 1 stick butter and yellow cake mix and mix thoroughly.  Press on top of the chocolate layer.

Crush Oreos.

We used these.

I had a couple of coupons (really good ones) and then they were on sale so we got them for really cheap.  And they claim to be healthy.  So look at that!  A healthy dessert. =o)

Pour the Oreos over the yellow layer.

Pour the can of sweetened condensed milk over the Oreos and bake for 40 - 45 minutes.

Let cool completely before you cut it (or it will be a sticky mess.)

My son loved these so much!  Perfect for the Oreo lover!

Heavenly, right?  I thought it was an excellent recipe choice.

I've had so much fun being a part of this amazing club!  If you missed previous months posts, here they are: 

Bannock: Skillet Fried Native American Bread

Beautiful Beet Bundt Cake  

French Butter Cookies  

Puff Pastry Mini Apple Bites  

Egg Shaped Brownies  

Pecan Pie Bars  

Cinnamon Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars  

Double Chocolate Caramel Mousse Cookies  

Chai Tea Bread  

Cinnabun Cheesecake  

Marble Cake with White Chocolate Glaze  

Mt. Bachelor Bars  

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip 

Ummm... apparently I like desserts!  Ha!  I'm pathetic! 

Now let's look at all the other amazing bloggers participating in today's SRC reveal.

 

I'm linking to the parties on my sidebar.

Gooey Cookies & Cream Bars

Have you ever had one of those days when everything goes wrong?  You wake up and you don't feel so great?  You're late for work?  Then work just doesn't go as planned (meaning kids freaking out, parents yelling for reasons that make no sense and co-workers stressing out because students are out of control)?  I'm the one that has to deal with all of that at work and normally I can chug through it and life is good.  But this week?  I'm exhausted.

So I decided to bake.  That always seems to help.  It gets my mind off of "life" and, well, it just plain tastes great when I'm done =o)

And how could I go wrong with this amazing recipe?  When I saw this over on A Dash of Sugar and Spice I immediately bookmarked it.  Cookies and Cream?  We are HUGE cookies and cream fans.  My son loves, loves, loves Oreos!  So I thought this would be perfect.

Gooey Cookies & Cream Bars
Source: A Dash of Sugar and Salt

* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 1 large egg
* 1 tsp. vanilla
* 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
* 3/4 cups crushed Oreos (about 10 cookies)
* 1 tsp. baking powder
* 1/4 tsp. salt
* 2 King Sized Cookies and Cream candy bars (or white chocolate bars)
* 1 (7 ounce) jar of Marshmallow creme
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line an 8x8 pan with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray.

Crush Oreo cookies.  I used Who Nu cookies.  Have you heard of them?  They claim to be "healthier" than regular cookies.  They have fiber and vitamin C and calcium in them.  See?  So my cookies are healthy, right???

Stir together cookie crumbs, flour, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.

Cream butter and sugar in a mixing bowl for about 3 minutes.  Add egg and vanilla and mix thoroughly.  Add flour ingredients and mix until combined.  Divide the dough in half and press half the dough into the bottom of your prepared pan.

Line your candy bars over the bottom layer.  You may have to break them up to make them fit. 

Carefully spread the marshmallow creme over the candy bars.

To add the remaining dough over the marshmallow creme, make a "pancake" out of a small amount of the remaining dough.  Lay these over the marshmallow creme.

Carefully spread the dough over the creme.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until lightly golden brown.  Let cool completely in the pan.

Carefully lift out cookies and cut into bars.

Heavenly, right???  These are seriously the best cookie I've had in awhile.  They were rich and gooey and delicious!!!  I just wish my pictures turned out better =o( 

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