When I became pregnant with my son, I had been more or less eating very healthy for three years. I had maybe one candy bar a year and that decision was always made with a great deal of consideration, weighing potential options, alternatives, and consequences (um, what happened?). One night in the middle of my second trimester, my husband and I were driving home at about 9:00 pm when we drove past a gas station. I ordered him to immediately pull into the parking lot. He obliged because he learned not to mess with pregnant me after the time I came home from Arby’s and discovered they had forgotten my curly fries and a lot of yelling, cupboard-slamming, and swearing ensued. He was scared.
Anyway, I’m sure he thought that the gas station stop had something to do with some form of pregnant lady bodily function. Imagine his surprise when I came out with a whole bunch of Twix bars. Yep, after years of healthy eating, Twix bars were my downfall. To me, they’re like those toxic boyfriends you keep going back to–we can’t be around each other without things ending in some kind of self-loathing.
Which is why, when presented with the opportunity, I made a whole pan of homemade Twix bars. Only to make matters worse, I topped them off with melted Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (my other ultimate weakness) instead of regular chocolate. Just call me Chelsea from Teen Mom 2… (for going back to my toxic “boyfriend”; I’m not implying that she eats a lot of Twix bars).
While it does take some time to make these, they’re actually super easy; most of the time is letting things cool down and set up. You’ll need softened salted butter, flour, powdered sugar, vanilla, caramels, cream, and mini Reese’s Peanut Butter cups. And just FYI, I’m pretty sure if I made up my own version of “My Favorite Things,” it would probably involve everything in that ingredients list.
Preheat your oven to 300. Then spray a 9×13″ pan with non-stick cooking spray and set it aside.
In a large bowl (or the bowl of a heavy duty mixer), combine the flour, powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla. Mix until it is combined–it may start out stiff, but it will all come together. Gently press it into the prepared pan
then prick the dough with a fork to prevent bubbles from forming while it’s baking.
Bake for 35-45 minutes or until the cookie crust is light golden. Remove it from the oven and let it cool completely. This can be done a day ahead of time.
When the crust is cool, place the caramels in a microwave-safe bowl.
Okay, I’ve modified the caramel directions from when I originally posted this recipe. I changed things because when I added 3 tablespoons of cream, the caramel melted everywhere, but it seems like a lot of people have run into hard caramel issues. So I recommend adding the 3 tablespoons with a warning that if you’re at a very low elevation, the caramel may end up being on the very soft side. So if you’re very worried about that (like if you’re bringing these to a bake sale and can’t keep them refrigerated), keep that in mind. But better too soft than breaking a tooth, right?
That’s right, if anyone asks you why you’re adding cream to your caramel, tell them you can get a note from your dentist that it’s totally necessary.
Melt the caramel in the microwave for 3-4 minutes or until smooth, stirring each minute.
Spread the caramel over the cookie crust and then place the pan in the fridge to help the caramel set up quickly.
When the caramel is solid, place the peanut butter cups in a microwave-safe bowl
and microwave for 2-3 minutes or until smooth and melted, stirring every 45 seconds. Spread it over the cooled caramel layer.
Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until the chocolate layer is solid (you could also pop it in the freezer for less time to hurry things along).
When the chocolate is set up, carefully cut into bars. Eat one. Pour a glass of milk. Go back for more. Wonder if Chelsea will ever learn her lesson and kick Adam to the curb forever. The end.
Peanut Butter Cup Caramel Shortbread Bars
Recipe adapted from King Arthur Flour by Our Best Bites
1 c. salted butter at room temperature
1 c. powdered sugar
2 c. all-purpose flour, lightly spooned into measuring cups and leveled with a knife
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. caramels (1 14-oz. package Kraft caramel or 2 c. homemade caramel)
3 tablespoons cream (see notes above)
3 cups mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (about 1 1/2 11-oz. bags)
Preheat oven to 300. Spray a 9×13″ pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
In a large bowl or the bowl of your mixer, combine the butter, sugar, flour, and vanilla until the mixture comes together. Lightly press the shortbread dough into the pan. Prick with a fork to prevent the crust from bubbling. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until the crust is lightly golden. Remove from oven and run a knife around the edges of the bars. Allow to cool completely.
Combine the caramels and cream in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring each minute, until the mixture is smooth. Spread evenly over the cookie crust, then place the pan in the refrigerator and chill for 30-60 minutes or until the caramel is solid.
In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the unwrapped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups until melted and smooth, stirring each 45 seconds. Spread over the cooled caramel. Place in refrigerator for 1-2 hours or until the chocolate layer is solid. They can also be placed in the freezer for less time if you’re in a hurry. Cut into squares and serve. Store leftovers in a cool area or the refrigerator to prevent messy disasters.
How did you KNOW!? I absolutely must make these…. I’m even going to take my three boys (4 and under) to the store so I can get the ingredients. YUM!
I need these now!! And PS- I love the comment about Chelsea. Glad to you know also have that guilty habit:)
<3,
Adri
I saw this recipe and I made tonight – YUM!! Thanks!
Wow! I think I just went into a sugar coma while reading this. But now that I’m conscious again, I’m immediately going to start making these. Delicious! I can’t wait. Thank you for sharing!!
I told my hubby about this recipe yesterday and he drooled. The bad news is that we can’t get caramels OR peanut butter cups here in the UK. (!!! I know, right!) We’re moving back to Canada in 2012 and, honestly, I can’t wait to make these bars.
It was your BBQ sauce that brought me to the site but you’re now on my Bookmarks bar so I can come peek at your archives on a daily basis. Oh yum!! Keep it coming. 😀
ps. Can I charge you for the new wardrobe I’m going to need because of this blog? 😉
How do you do it? Joy and happiness, sorrow and despair, all wrapped up together after reading this post. Smiles because it’s going to taste so yummy and frowns because it’s going to taste so yummy (and I’ll just keep eating, and eating, and eating…..).
Oh YUMMY…. I am going to make these and eat them tonight when I watch the new season of 16 and Pregnant. I have an 18, 15 and 13 year old sons and they make fun of me for watching the show but…it is reality…all teenagers should be forced to watch!!!
Love your blog and your cookbook. I am working my way through it one page at a time…next up a WW book so that we can all lose the weight we have gained from your delish recipes. Oh WAIT … there is portion control. I should try that first!
Argh! I am 8.5 months pregnant…and completely craving both twix and reeses. This recipe may well be the death of me!!! 🙂
Looks so delicious that I am making this tonight!
these look super yummy !! was looking for more recipes to put in my easter basket ! these sound perfect !
Um….Yum! Your Arby’s story made me laugh out loud. Reminds me of when I was pregnant with my first, I sent my husband out for gas station nachos and he came home with doughnuts instead. Nineteen years later and I still can’t let it go.
I made these tonight. I cannot decide whether to thank you for this amazing recipe or cry because I cannot stop eating them. 🙂
DIVINE!
OMG, OMG, OMG. My two favorite candy bars of all time – except Reese’s comes first, then Twix bars, for me. I think the hardest and most “difficult” part of this recipe is unwrapping all those caramels and Reese’s. One year, my best friend sent me an Easter basket and it included one bag of those mini Reese’s cups and I told her, “If you ever send me little Reese’s again – you better be on the look out for me!!!!” I hated unwrapping all those little cups just to get the same “effect” as eating one or two regular sized ones. She did it on purpose – very devilish of her!
Well, this recipe is going in my files, that’s for sure.
Oh my deliciousness!!! My husband LOVES caramel and peanut butter cups…this could be a new favorite around our house. I am going to Wal-Mart soon and will be picking up the few things I don’t already have around the house for this. What an amazing recipe!!!!
LOVIN’ these!! This is a MUST try!!!
(& I can’t stand Adam!!! What a loser, low life, cheater, @ss, rude, etc etc… So called- person!!!! ) ok, I’m done now. 🙂 Now, on to the bars!!!!! 🙂
These look too delicious not to make!
Why oh why did I read this? And why didn’t I stop reading sooner? Now I must have them!
to put your minds at ease, Chelsea is on my twitter and stated that shortly after the reunion show they broke up for good and I havent seen anything stating otherwise since then. even if she finally resisted, I’m still going to make these twix bars tonight!! haha
OMG I can’t wait to make these! Sounds like a must for Easter. Thanks for sharing – this is my new favorite website so many things I’m excited about trying & thrilled with the ones that I have already!
HA!!!! Kate, the minute I saw Chelsea on here, I knew it had to be a post from you–before I even read what the recipe was for. Hee hee! I’m totally cracking up. And I am absolutely loving the parallel you made with yourself and Chelsea. Hilarious. But seriously, WHAT is her problem? I can’t handle it. He is so, so, so incredibly awful to her. Between her and Jenelle, what are we going to do??!! And of course, the recipe looks absolutely amazing. I’m currently making the strawberry/lime shortcakes with coconut cream, so these will have to be next on the list. You’re killin’ me and my waistline… 🙂
Becky, we’re total kindred spirits. When I’m done with my office, you can come and sleep on the futon I’m going to put in there and we’ll have a Teen Mom marathon. 🙂
Sounds like a fabulous plan to me!!!
MMmmmmmmmmm!!! 😀 I’ve got to try these soon!
As a side note, I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the picture of a huge pile of reese’s on a purple background!! I saved it to my computer so I can use it as wallpaper/FB profile pic, etc! 😀
Thanks for all the yummy recipes!!
AWESOME!! I love it! 🙂
Oh my gosh I totally laughed out loud at the Chelsea thing. I just want to shake her!!!!
I may have to stop reading your blog. Seriously these look too yummy. I love twix and peanut butter cups!!! I have to make this for tonight’s FHE.
P.S. I made the molten lava cakes a couple of weeks ago and may or may not have had to make them 4 times since. Just saying.
I make a similar(ish) recipe with peanut butter filling and plain chocolate on the top. I believe the filling is just PB, powdered sugar, and vanilla. I think your crust looks way better though, so I might combine the two for a peanut butter twix version. Bonus….less unwrapping of caramels/pb cups!
hey! I had the very same “need” for a Twix Fix when I was preggers too! Must be something about the combo that the baby desires too! 🙂
Thanks for sharing — just printed it out to add to my Holiday cookie tray recipes. As always, you are amazing ladies with such great talent in the kitchen. Thank you for sharing this! ♥
I need these. Soon. I love Twix more than I can say. I’m glad I’m not the only one who enjoys this little “guilty pleasure” we call Teen Mom.
Are you kidding me??? These ingredients are going on my shopping list RIGHT NOW!
These look AMAZING! Twix are one of my favorites right now and Reese’s Cups are definitely a family favorite. I tend to indluge when I am not pregnant due to the fact that when I am I do not crave ANYTHING! And Teen Mom is like my husbands favorite show and we hate that fact that Chelsea goes back to Adam. Arghh! Love your site and I should get your cookbook in the mail to day! So excited!
Okay, I totally love that it’s your HUSBAND’S favorite show! Mine totally mocks me for watching it, but I see how he lingers in the room and peers around the corner… 🙂
PB cups and Twix candy bars are also an addiction of mine! And there you go combing the both of them!