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Get ready to treat yourself to a delightful combination of flavors with these Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Bars! Each layer brings its own delicious twist: a rich, fudgy chocolate base, creamy peanut butter filling, and a luscious caramel topping that will leave you craving more. Perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth or sharing with friends at gatherings, these bars are easy to make and utterly irresistible. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a decadent dessert that’s sure to become a favorite in your recipe collection!
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Bars

Get ready to treat yourself to a delightful combination of flavors with these Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Bars! Each layer brings its own delicious twist: a rich, fudgy chocolate base, creamy peanut butter filling, and a luscious caramel topping that will leave you craving more.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Bars
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 16

Ingredients

For the shortbread base:

  • 1 ¼ cup packed fine blanched almond flour
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 3 Tbsps melted and cooled coconut oil
  • 3 Tbsps pure maple syrup

For the peanut butter layer:

  • ¾ cup drippy natural peanut butter
  • cup pure maple syrup
  • ¼ cup coconut oil
  • ¾ cup coarsely chopped roasted salted peanuts
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp sea salt

For the chocolate layer:

  • ¾ cup chocolate chips dairy free or vegan if wanted
  • 1 Tbsp coconut oil

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Line an 8x8 inch (20x20 cm) square pan with parchment paper. Using this size is crucial as a larger pan might be too big.
  • In a medium bowl, combine almond flour, cocoa powder, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt.
  • Mix with a fork until you get a thick, crumbly texture. Press this mixture evenly into the prepared pan using your fingers.
  • Bake for about 10 minutes. Let the crust cool for about 10 minutes before adding caramel. After baking, sprinkle peanuts evenly over the crust.

While the crust bakes, prepare the peanut butter caramel layer:

  • In a medium pot over medium-low heat, combine peanut butter, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and sea salt. Stir frequently for about 2 minutes, until the mixture just starts to bubble slightly.
  • Remove from heat. Pour the caramel over the peanuts and slightly cooled crust.
  • Place in the fridge for 30-45 minutes to harden. If you're in a hurry, put it in the freezer for 20 minutes to speed up the process.

After 30 minutes, prepare the chocolate layer:

  • In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and coconut oil. Microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring between, until completely melted. Alternatively, melt them in a small saucepan over low heat.
  • Pour the melted chocolate over the caramel layer, tilting the pan to spread it evenly. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour until the chocolate hardens and the bars are completely cooled.
  • Remove from the pan and cut into 16 bars or any size you want. Cut the whole pan in half, then cut each half into 8 (1-inch) bars. Enjoy! Keep bars covered in the fridge until serving.