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When I made these Chocolate Chip Caramel Crumble Bars for the first time, they are so good that my husband Jack told me that I needed to name them something like, “Crazy Good Crumble Bars” or “OMG! These Are Good! Cookie Bars” or simply “YUM!” Bars.
They ARE crazy good…!
This recipe came about after we made our Oatmeal Cranberry Cheesecake Bar recipe a few weeks ago – and with the oatmeal crust, sweet crumble topping, and a delicious cream cheese filling, I started to think about other fillings and variations that would also work with the recipe!
A few days later, I found a bag of caramel bits (we bought them at Wal-Mart or you can find them here
) and chocolate chips in our kitchen cabinet – and the wheels in my mind kept turning. And, with a Halloween party to attend last week (and never wanting to show up empty-handed) – I had the perfect excuse to try out a new recipe! And so – these chocolate chip caramel crumble bars were created!
These chocolate chip caramel crumble bars have an oatmeal cookie bottom with a yummy cream cheese middle layer. I sprinkled both semi-sweet chocolate chips and the caramel bits evenly over the cream cheese filling, and then sprinkled the oatmeal crumble topping over the chips before baking. Once baked, both the chocolate chips and the caramel bits melt slightly into the cream cheese mixture – but you still get a bit of the chewiness from the caramel bits!
These chocolate chip caramel crumble bars are my idea of the perfect bar cookie, and I predict they will become a family favorite at your house too!
We love seeing what you made! Tag us on Instagram at @afamilyfeast or hashtag #afamilyfeast so we can see your creations!
Chocolate Chip Caramel Crumble Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
- 3/4 cups packed brown sugar
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened to room temperature
- 12 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup Kraft Caramel Bits
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13×9-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, stir together the flour, oatmeal, and brown sugar. Add the softened butter to the mixing bowl and mix on medium speed until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Measure out 1½ cups of the crumb mixture and set aside in a separate bowl.
- Pour the remaining crumbs into the prepared baking dish and press evenly into the bottom of the dish. Bake for 15 minutes.
- While the crust is baking, in the same bowl of the stand mixer, cream the softened cream cheese and sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, lemon juice and vanilla extract and mix well.
- When the crust is done baking, remove from the oven and pour the cream cheese mixture evenly over the crust. Sprinkle the chocolate chips and caramel bits evenly over the cream cheese mixture, then finish by sprinkling the reserved oatmeal crumbs over the top of the chocolate chips and caramel bits.
- Bake for 30-35 or until completely set in the middle of the pan and very lightly golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Cover and refrigerate the baking dish for at least 3 hours so that the bars can firm up.
- Once chilled, cut into bars and serve.
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You may also like:
Oatmeal Cranberry Cheesecake Bars
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars
I have never heard of caramel bits…I live in a small town and probably don’t have any in my store. Any suggestions for a substitute? These look delightful. Thank you!!!
Hi Janet – we found them at Walmart! Otherwise you could replace them with any other type of chip!
I do have Walmart here! Thanks so much.
P.S. These are delicious! And I won 3rd place at the office luncheon today! Thanks again.
Can this be made with regular oats?
It can – but pulse the oats in a food processor for a few seconds so they are a little smaller in size.
These look delicious!! Making tomorrow!!!
Thanks Melissa! I hope you enjoy the recipe as much as we do!
I made these and they were even better than they look!!! They were gone in a day and half!!
So glad you liked them Melisa! I agree…they do taste even better than they look!
Wow, I need to stop at the store on the way home cause I want these soon! AND, now I am addicted to your blog. I am so glad I found your web page.
Thanks Joey! We’re so glad you found us too! Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Wow. These look…. amazing.
Seriously, so awesome.
Pinning!
Thanks Abbie!!
Ooh, yum! These are my kind of bars, I would love some of these right now with my tea 🙂
Thank you!
they look yummy!
Thanks so much Dina!
These look amazing! I’m thinking I should change my plans for tomorrow and make these instead! I want one right now!
Thanks Amy!
I love these martha – that crumble looks so good
Thanks Heather!
These look fabulous Martha! You can never go wrong with caramel!
Thanks Tanya! I agree!