Best Caramel Frosted Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Bars Recipes

CHOCOLATE CHIP CARAMEL BARS

Steps:

• HEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8 x 8-inch pan with flour no-stick cooking spray.
• COMBINE shortening, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla in medium bowl; beat at medium speed until blended.
• COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Add gradually to shortening mixture at low speed. Beat until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips with spoon. Divide dough in half. Spread half in bottom of prepared pan.
• COMBINE caramels and water in small saucepan; heat over very low heat. Stir until caramels melt. Spread over dough in pan to within 1/2 inch of edge. Spoon remaining dough over caramel mixture. Spread carefully.
• BAKE 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. Loosen from sides of pan with knife. Remove pan to cooling rack to cool completely. Cut into 1 1/2 x 1 1/2-inch bars.

CARAMEL CHIP BARS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the butter, caramels and milk; cook and stir over medium-low heat until smooth. Cool. , In a large bowl, beat the cake mix, oil and eggs until blended. Stir in chips and chopped candy bar (dough will be stiff). , Press three-fourths into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes. Place on a wire rack for 10 minutes., Pour caramel mixture over the crust. Drop remaining dough by spoonfuls onto caramel layer. Bake for 25-30 minutes longer or until edges are golden brown. , Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes; run a knife around edges of pan. Cool 40 minutes longer; cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

CHOCOLATE BUTTERSCOTCH CARAMEL BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick spray.
• Mix together the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the mixture into the prepared pan and pat lightly to pack it slightly.
• Bake until light golden brown on top and done in the middle, watching to make sure it doesn't burn, 30 to 35 minutes. Allow to cool for 15 minutes.
• Spoon the dulce de leche into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave to just slightly soften it, about 45 seconds. Scoop it on top of the oatmeal base and use an offset spatula to spread it out to the edges and into an even layer. Sprinkle on a layer of peanuts so that they completely cover the caramel and use your hands to gently press them into the caramel. Sprinkle on the butterscotch chips and mini chocolate chips in generous layers.
• Note: The warmth of the cookie base and caramel should slightly soften the butterscotch and chocolate chips. When that happens, use your hands to very gently press the chips just enough to anchor them together (but not enough to misshape them). If the pan isn't warm enough, pop it into the oven for 30 seconds or so and gently press the chips to anchor them together.
• Chill the bars for 2 to 3 hours to make them easy to slice. Remove them from the pan, place on a cutting board and use a long serrated knife to cut into small squares (they're rich!). Serve cold or at room temperature.

CARAMEL FROSTED PUMPKIN COOKIES WITH BUTTERSCOTCH CHIPS

Steps:

• Cream together shortening and 1 cup sugar. Note: I have recently experimented by substituting 1/4 cup of the shortening for a healthy, butter-flavored margarine -- using all butter or margarine tends to make the cookies spread out and not hold their shape, however). Add pumpkin and egg and cream lightly until fluffy (I usually use a hand mixer for this).
• Combine flour, soda, cinnamon and salt; mix into cream mixture. (I usually switch to a wooden spoon, to keep the mixture light and fluffy -- you don't want to overbeat).
• Fold in butterscotch chips.
• Drop by teaspoons on an ungreased cookie sheet, and bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until done (I sometimes find it takes a little longer, depending on humidity, the size of the cookie, etc.). Refrigerate remaining dough, covered, while other cookies are baking.
• In the meantime, make the frosting: combine the butter and milk in a small saucepan and cook until sugar is dissolved (or, you can cook in the microwave, about 30 seconds+/-). Let cool for several minutes (mixture will be still be warm). Stir in the powdered sugar, sifted, then add vanilla; whisk well until smooth.
• Frost cookies fresh out of the oven and while frosting is still somewhat warm; frosting will harden as it sits out; if necessary, reheat for a few seconds in the microwave until pliable again and/or add a few more drops of milk and restir.

CHEWY CHIP BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. Stir in chips. , Press into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 325° for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes; cut into bars. Cool completely in the pan.