After the egg cream float, daycare days, we moved to the country. Well, it was 3 1/2 miles south of the tiny town I went to school in, but to a young girl, that was country. There was no Pizza Hut delivery. There were no friends just dropping in to see if I wanted to play. There was nothing but my family and the animals and the land. The worst part about it was there was no easy access to candy. I had friends who could just walk to a convenience store to get their candy fix. Not me… I had to wait until we’d “go into town” before I could get candy. Such a rough life I lead…
I never understood why my mom couldn’t just make candy bars. I mean, the ingredients were right there on the side of the package. How hard could it be to figure out how much Thiamine Mononitrate and Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate went into a candy bar? Once again, you can pity me because my mom never even tried… I was left candy deprived.
You can imagine my determination the other day when we passed an apartment complex right next to a gas station and I heard my 7 year old exclaim “That would be the best place to live, ever!” When I asked her why, she said “Because you could get candy easily any time you wanted!” Ahhhh…. the flood of memories came rushing back to me and I became bound and determined to give my girl what I never had… her favorite candy bar without having to wait until a “trip to town” to get it.
OK so – Homemade Twix Caramel Cookie Bars…. soooooo good, but no substitute for the real Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate filled goodness you can find at the convenience store. If you are looking for a shortbread caramel Twix type cookie bar, this recipe is for you. If you are looking for the real thing, move next to a gas station. I’m pretty sure that’s the only solution.
Recipe: Homemade Twix Caramel Cookie Bars
For the shortbread layer:
- 2 sleeves Girl Scout Shortbread cookies, finely crushed (I used a food processor)
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 9 Tablespoons butter, melted
Combine cookies, sugar and melted butter in a bowl. Press into prepared 8-inch square baking dish. Place in the refrigerator to chill while you create the caramel layer,
For the caramel layer (from Liz at Hooiser Homemade)
- 1 cup graham crackers, crushed
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/2 cup butter
Combine all ingredients into a medium sized saucepan and bring to a boil, while stirring, over medium heat. Continue stirring and allow the mixture to boil for 5 minutes, or until caramel starts to pull away from the side of the pan. Pour the caramel mixture over the shortbread crust, spreading so it is an even layer. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
For the chocolate:
- 1 package Milk Chocolate chips
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 Tablespoon whipping cream
In a microwave safe dish, melt the chocolate chips and butter together on low power for 2 minutes. Stir in the whipping cream. Continue the melting process at 30 second intervals until chocolate is melted and smooth. Pour over the caramel layer and spread until even and smooth. Place in the refrigerator for 1 hour, or until settled. Cut into squares, top with crumbs from the shortbread crust, and serve.
Cookin' Canuck says
Kristen, these look amazing! What cute stories about you and your 7-year old. I’d take these beautiful bars over anything with all the fake stuff in a heartbeat.
Liz@HoosierHomemade says
Thanks so much for the mention Kristen! Your cookies look amazing!
~Liz
Cookbook Queen says
These are gorgeous!!
And as someone who DOES live in the country, I can say that I definitely envy those convenience store neighbors.
Amanda says
Seriously… LOVE these. Please do not be alarmed if I show up on your doorstep and demand these immediately.
TidyMom says
lol love your story!!…….and I know I’m going to HAVE to make these!
Lori @ RecipeGirl says
WHOAAAA. Love. My favorite candy bar 🙂
Double Dipped Life says
I dunno… this look like they’d take Twix for a run for the money! Yum!
Marla {family fresh cooking} says
That is too cute what your kiddo said. Thank goodness you can make these treats at home – way better than a bar in a wrapper any day 🙂
xo
Allison [Girl's Guide to Social Media] says
Homemade candy bars are SO much better than store-bought. Plus, I never have Thiamine Mononitrate and Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate in the house. Oh darn… 🙂
Nancy says
Those look great! But the real question is–did the 7-year-old deign to eat them in place of the gas-station version?
Nourhan @ Miss Anthropist's Kitchen says
This looks incredible! I am totally bookmarking this for later…thanks for sharing! 🙂
Nancy@acommunaltable says
What a cute story!! These look entirely too good and beat the store bought bars any day!!!
Georgia Pellegrini says
Wow these look so good, I can taste them! Your child is adorable for saying that : )
Shaina says
I love your story! We lived close enough to walk to the store, but my parents were health nuts who would freak if we ate candy. So we usually ended up with Clearly Canadian Sparkling Water. We were so naughty.
I love Twix, though, so I’ll have to try these. (Just don’t tell my dad.)
Maria says
My mouth is watering! I need these!
Karly says
These look amazing and I love that you used Girl Scout cookies for the base. I have a slight addiction to their shortbread cookies! 🙂
Nancy Wyatt says
Loved your story and loved that your 7yr old shared her thoughts that in turn brought back memories! Love it! Love the looks of this candy bar! 🙂 You are giving me the itch to get in the kitchen and make something yummy to eat and blog about! Hugs from Conroe, TX!
Kathryn says
When I first glanced at those yummy bars, I thought the caramel layer was a kind of orange marmalade layer…and now I’m wondering what that would taste like…
Deborah says
This brings back childhood memories for me, too! We lived about 5 miles out of city limits, and I always felt like it was so far away! I’ll have to try these out – I’m a caramel junkie so I’m sure I’d love them!
Jenny Flake says
These look like a dream Kristen!! Fabulous!
Robyn | Add a Pinch says
Such a cute story! These look scrumptious.
bridget {bake at 350} says
I love the story that goes along with this post, Kristen! And the fact that I love the recipe probably goes without saying! 😉
Lisa says
Yummm. Sorry, that’s all the comment I can seem to think of right now…. Droool. 🙂
Maris(In Good Taste) says
These look and I am sure taste far better then what you buy in the candy store
patsyk says
I can’t wait to make these! My mouth is watering just thinking about them!
Heather @ sweet sins says
These look sooooo good!!
El says
This is hysterical. Only a child would want to live next to a convenience store for candy. I must say your homemade version looks far superior to the one with unpronounceable ingredients. Amazing .
theurbanbaker says
As a kid, my neighbor and I would save glass bottles. We used to pile them into our little red wagon and walk 7 blocks to “Bushel Basket” our local very, very small neighborhood market. We would redeem our bottles, collect our money and buy pixie sticks, candy buttons, and babe ruth bars. Gosh – I have not thought about that for ever! Thanks for rekindling those memories. I love your version of the Twix bar(my all time favorite along with KitKats). Such a great post, Kristen!
Sandy @ RE says
Have I told you how much I love you?
These look DIVINE. xoxox
Prerna@IndianSimmer says
Aww, what a cute story! Just replace candy to ice cream and its my story right there, so you know why I bought an ice cream maker 🙂
And that candy bar is SINFUL! I wanna be a kid again.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
Haha, 3 1/2 miles from candy! How ever did you manage? I’m just teasing, I remember how important candy was when I was a kid. Scratch that, I still know how important having candy within easy reach is. I could seriously use a few of these bars around my house now.
Aimee Sanderson says
These are very exciting! Twix are totally my favourite bars (though close tie with snickers…). I know what I’ll be making this weekend.
I’m intrigued to how they’ll differ to a standard kind of chocolate caramel slice.
Here’s my chocolate caramel slice which will be part of my comparison! http://clevermuffin.com/2011/06/07/chocolatecaramelslice/
Bakerbynature says
So gooey and wonderful looking, I would like to eat 2 right now please.
Deliciously Organic says
How creative! I love this!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
OMG. They look heavenly, and WAY better than the real thing!
Natanya @ Fete & Feast says
Twix bars are my favorite candy bar. I avoid them now because of the unpronounceable ingredients but oh do I miss them. This is a way to have my cake – or I guess cookie – and eat it too. Thanks for sharing!
Angela@RecipesFromMyMom says
These remind me a little of Giada’s Espresso caramel bars from her Giada @ Home cookbook but your bar is so great because it’s no-bake. I love how you’ve pulled together inspiration from a blogger, the Girl Scout cookie base and a much-loved candy bar.
Cassie says
Heavenly! They look so gooey and sinful, love those flavor combos!
Amy | She Wears Many Hats says
Mighty fine. Mighty fine indeed. I think I’ll make these for me, hide them in the pantry up high and send my kids to the store for the ones they like. ; )
Judith says
oh…yum!!! I love love twix! HAVE to make these!
Amanda N - Wine and a Spoon says
Uh… what?! I LOVE Twix. You know I’m going to be making these for the boys at the fire station.
Lane says
This is too funny… I’m sending a link to my college student/daughter.
Thanks!
carrie says
Those look great. I used to get twix in my lunch everyday in elementary school. I think im going to make them this weekend for my party on the 4th 😉 thanks for the recipe
Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets says
Mmmm that looks so so good — my bf would probably propose if I made him this ;p
Pook says
Sorry, but King Arthur Flour has a better recipe called Thousand Dollar Bars and it predates you.