Decadent peanut butter bars made with cracker crumbs are oozing with rich caramel and chocolate! Caramel Cracker Bars are just the treat to bring a little bit of sweetness to your day.
Have you ever made cracker bars? Not to be confused with Brickle Bars or Cracker Toffee. Both tasty but two totally different treats. Cracker Bars (or Club Cracker Bars) are layers of crispy crackers and chewy caramel, and topped with chocolate. Delish.
Why this Recipe is Best
The Caramel Cracker Bar recipe I’m sharing today adds a little peanut butter in the mix because, why not?
You’re already putting butterscotch, caramel and chocolate into one dessert bar so you might as well go all out and get some peanut butter in there, too!
I first knew of these bars as “Club Cracker Bars” because I believe they were originally made with club crackers. You can also make these with Ritz crackers.
The taste combo of salty crispy cracker crumbs with gooey sweet caramel is a thing of beauty.
If you like peanut butter cracker toffee, you’ll love these bars. The idea is similar except these are a softer and chewier bar with layers of cracker crispiness throughout.
- Caramel Cracker Bars are extremely rich and completely decadent tasting which makes them great for sharing.
- Did I mention this also happens to be a no-bake club cracker dessert? Perfect for hot summer days when you don’t want to turn on your oven, or when you don’t have time to monitor a pan of bars while they bake.
- You just layer everything in a baking pan and let it set up in the fridge until firm. I recommend making these the night before and allowing them to set in the fridge overnight.
(Yes, you’re allowed to eat dessert for breakfast in these situations. I’ve decided.)
Ingredient Notes
Here’s what you need to make these bars:
{Ingredients at a glance; scroll down for full printable recipe with ingredient amounts}
- Club crackers (or Ritz)
- Graham cracker crumbs
- Butterscotch chips
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Butter
- Peanut Butter
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Milk
How to Make Club Cracker Bars
Make Caramel. In saucepan, heat graham cracker crumbs, sugars, butter and milk. Bring to a boil and continue stirring while boiling for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
Layer Club Crackers. In foil lined (and buttered) 13×9 baking dish, layer club crackers over bottom. Pour half of caramel mixture over crackers, then lay another layer of Club crackers over caramel mixture, and remaining caramel.
More Layers. Repeat with one more layer of crackers. Refrigerate while continuing with the next step.
Melt Topping. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt butterscotch and semi sweet morsels with peanut butter. Stir until smooth and creamy.
Slice and Serve. Remove the pan of crackers and caramel from the fridge. Pour the butterscotch mixture over the crackers and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or over night.
Cut into bite sized pieces and serve cold!
Tips and Tricks
- Make your own graham cracker crumbs by pulsing whole Graham crackers in a food processor to form sand-like crumbs.
- Store these caramel dessert bars in the fridge in an airtight containers. They can soften quickly at room temperature so I prefer to eat them cold!
- These treats freeze beautifully, too! After cutting into pieces, transfer to a freezer-safe container with wax paper between each layer of bars to keep them from sticking. Let thaw in the fridge when ready to serve.
- These treats are soft in texture compared to our classic cracker toffee recipe. Those have a crispy texture.
More Easy Desserts
- Peppermint Cracker Toffee
- Banana Pudding
- Snickerdoodles
- Rice Krispie Treats
- S’mores Cookie Bars
- Oreo Toffee
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Ingredients
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 box Club crackers
- 1 cup butterscotch morsels
- 1 cup semi-sweet morsels
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
Instructions
- In saucepan, heat graham cracker crumbs, sugars, butter and milk. Bring to a boil and continue stirring while boiling for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
- In foil lined (and buttered) 13×9 baking dish, layer crackers over bottom. Pour half of caramel mixture over club crackers, then lay another layer of club crackers over caramel mixture, and remaining caramel. Repeat with one more layer of club crackers. Refrigerate while continuing with next step in recipe.
- In small saucepan, melt butterscotch and semi sweet morsels with peanut butter. Stir until smooth and creamy. Pour over crackers, refrigerate 4 hours or over night.
- Cut into bite size pieces and enjoy cold!
Notes
- Make your own graham cracker crumbs by pulsing whole Graham crackers in a food processor to form sand-like crumbs.
- Store these caramel dessert bars in the fridge in an airtight containers. They can soften quickly at room temperature so I prefer to eat them cold!
- These treats freeze beautifully, too! After cutting into pieces, transfer to a freezer-safe container with wax paper between each layer of bars to keep them from sticking. Let thaw in the fridge when ready to serve.
Nutrition
If you love cracker toffee and club cracker desserts, Caramel Cracker Bars are bound to become your new favorite treat! For a party, an after dinner dessert or a midday snack, everyone loves these heavenly caramel bars.
These look really good. I love pretty much anything with caramel.
Yum! I have has a version of this, but I love the way yours looks! THe height is gorgeous!
I’ve never made these before but I’m glad I’ve seen them now. These look perfect for teachers’ gifts. I’m always on the lookout for these kinds of treats. Thanks for sharing on A Well-Seasoned Life’s Sweet Indulgences Sunday.
I can always count on you to bring us a tasty treat! Thanks!
Um, yes please. These are going on my list. Mmm.
Oh my goodness, what a great treat! If it is caramel I am going to love it. Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and I look forward to seeing you again real soon.
Have a great week end!
Miz Helen
I might need to get a new keyboard because of all the drool! When I saw your thumbnail my eyes popped open very wide! Thanks for sharing! MMMMM!
Oh my gosh! These look delicious!!!
Looks amazing. They totally remind me of the little squares offered now at Starbucks. Must make these soon!
Just became a new foloower.
Yum, this looks so good. I send a lot of treats to my son, who is away at school. These bars look like they will travel well, especially after being taste tested by me. Thanks for a great recipe!
Drool! I’m a new follower. Thanks for visiting my site so that I could come and visit yours! I can see that I will be spending some time here. Yum!
These look SO good. Love your blog!
Ty- I have a recipe here for Millionairre’s shortbread (which is like what you linked to). That is delish as well!
Coffee shops in England have these with shortbread instead of crackers… they are good.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramel_shortbread
Aimee, your killing me here! Drool, and sweat break out when I visit your recipes. 🙂
its absolutely a treat for those who have sweet tooth like me..:P
Tasty Appetite
Oh my gosh! These look SO GOOD! We found your blog through a linky party and are your newest followers! We would love for you to follow us, too! We have an awesome giveaway going on right now. Come check us out!
www.sixsistersstuff.blogspot.com
Wow, this is so tempting. I’m following you
ohmygoodness! Those look ah-mazing! I could eat the whole plate. Wow!
LOL! I need to work out too…IKR? Too much sugary goodness each week…and then you tempt me with these!!!! 🙂
Sorry