Name: Behr Track Cookie Bars
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 2/3 cup confectioners' sugar; 1/3 cup baking cocoa; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 cup butter, melted; CARAMEL LAYER:; 1 package (13 ounces) caramels; 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream; 1-1/2 cups lightly crushed pretzels; PEANUT BUTTER LAYER:; 1 cup creamy peanut butter; 1/4 cup butter, softened; 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar; CHOCOLATE LAYER:; 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips; 3 tablespoons shortening

The holidays are the perfect time to indulge in these ooey-gooey, salty-sweet peanut butter bars. A lot of people comment that the pretzels in the filling are a pleasant surprise. Just make sure to cut cookie bars small—they're super rich. —Megan Behr, Marion, Iowa

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup confectioners' sugar

1/3 cup baking cocoa

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter, melted

CARAMEL LAYER:

1 package (13 ounces) caramels

3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

1-1/2 cups lightly crushed pretzels

PEANUT BUTTER LAYER:

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

CHOCOLATE LAYER:

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

3 tablespoons shortening

Instructions

1 Preheat oven to 350°. Whisk flour, sugar, cocoa and salt; stir in butter. Press onto bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake until set, 10-15 minutes. Cool completely.

2 Microwave caramels and cream, covered, on high in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring occasionally, until melted, 3-5 minutes. Spread over crust; cover with pretzels. Refrigerate until set.

3 Meanwhile, combine peanut butter and butter; beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread over pretzels. Return to refrigerator.

4 In the microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl; stir until smooth. Spread over peanut butter layer. Refrigerate 15 minutes before cutting into bars.