Chubby Hubby Bars



With a name like "Chubby Hubby", you'd think I'd remember when I first heard about these bars. Nope. I can't for the life of me recall what prompted me to do a Google search for recipes.  It's really immaterial, though, because the important thing is that I found a terrific recipe, made the bars for my office peeps, and am now sharing this extraordinary recipe with you.  Yes, you can thank me as profusely as you'd like.  I'd especially welcome lots of adoring comments on this post.

There are actually quite a few recipes out there for these treats.  The best by far is on the Cookies & Cups blog.  Shelly's pictures are, simply put, stunning.  I could feel the caramel dripping down my chin just looking at the screen.  Regrettably, my photos aren't as mouth-watering, but hopefully they are enticing enough to get you bake a batch of these goodies yourself.  You will not regret it!

Ingredients: 

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour  
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temp
• 1 cup organic coconut palm sugar (or brown sugar)
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 1/2 cups coarsely crushed pretzels
• 1 8-ounce bag of Reese’s Mini cups (or 2 cups coarsely chopped full sized Reese’s)
• 14 ounces caramel bits (found in the baking aisle - will take a one full bag and a small part of a second bag) 
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 cups milk chocolate chips, melted

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spritz a 9×13 pan lightly with non-stick buttery spray.
• Beat together butter and sugars until light and fluffy, for about a minute.
• Add eggs and vanilla and mix until incorporated.
• On low speed, add in your salt, baking soda and flour, mixing until just combined.
• Slowly add in your Reese's and pretzels, mixing until evenly distributed.
• Spread in your prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes.
• Let cool completely, for approximately 30 minutes to an hour.
• When cooled, melt the caramels and 2 tablespoons of water in a microwave-safe bowl stirring every minute until thoroughly melted.
• Pour over the bars.
• Chill in the fridge for 15 minutes to set caramel.
• Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and spread over caramel.
• Put back in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or until the chocolate is set.
• Cut into squares when ready to serve.