Peanut Butter Caramel Bars

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 cups pecan halves
• 1 (14 ounce) package caramels, unwrapped
• 2 tablespoons half-and-half cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 (11 1/2 ounce) package milk chocolate chips

Recipe

• 1 heat oven to 375°f
• 2 combine sugar, brown sugar, butter and peanut butter in large bowl. beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. add egg; continue beating until well mixed. reduce speed to low; add flour, baking powder and salt. beat until dough forms.
• 3 press dough evenly into ungreased 15x10x1-inch baking pan. sprinkle pecans evenly over dough. bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until crust is lightly browned around edges.
• 4 meanwhile, place caramels and half & half in 2-quart heavy saucepan. cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth (6 to 11 minutes). stir in vanilla.
• 5 drizzle caramel mixture evenly over pecans; sprinkle with chocolate chips. cool completely (about 3 hours) at room temperature. cut into bars.