“Chubby Hubby” Bars

I’m a Breyer’s Natural Vanilla (with hot fudge) girl at home, but whenever we go on a trip, and we’re staying in a hotel, Steve and I treat ourselves to a pint of delicious Ben & Jerry’s from a convenient store. “Chubby Hubby” is one of our favorites. I have a photo of Steve eating “Chubby Hubby” on our third day of marriage while we’re driving through New York on our honeymoon :) I’ve had these tempting bars pinned on Pinterest for a few years now, and I just finally got around to trying the recipe. YUM! Who could decline a cookie bar with Reese’s mini cups, salty pretzels, a layer of caramel, and a crust of solid semi-sweet chocolate? Take a look, and make this recipe soon!



Ingredients:

2  1/2 cups flour
2 sticks butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon sea salt
1  1/2 cups chopped pretzels
8 ounce bag Reese’s mini cups (or 2 cups of chopped, full-size Reese’s)
14 ounce bag of caramels—I bought two bags of Kraft Caramel Bits (11 ounces), and dipped into the second bag for 3 ounces (about 1/2 cup)
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 baking dish.


Cream together the butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Add in one egg at a time, and then put in the teaspoons of vanilla.


Gradually mix in the baking soda, sea salt, and flour.


To finish the batter, mix in the mini Reese’s and crushed pretzels.


Spread into the greased 9x13. Bake for 25 minutes, and then let it cool completely.


Put the caramels into a microwave-safe dish. Add in TWO Tablespoons of water. Then microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring every minute until it’s smooth.


Pour the caramel sauce over the entire (cooled) bars.


Let the caramel set in the fridge for about 20 minutes.


Next, melt the chocolate chips on a double-boiler or with the microwave. (If using a microwave, make sure to stir every 30 seconds and don’t overdo it.)


Spread the chocolate as your top layer. Put it back in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or until the chocolate has hardened.


Cut into bars. And INDULGE!



In honor of Ben & Jerry’s, I had to put Ephraim in his B&J’s onesie! He just happens to have one from when my mom went to the Vermont factory in 2011 :)

 

And of course, the hubby is happy! :)

Oh, and that cute honeymoon photo that started it all:

 

Adapted from an original recipe from Cookies & Cups.