We love these Salted Caramel Oat Bars at our house. They are so good and have that fun homemade treat vibe that made rice crispy treats so memorable.
So gather your kids and a handful to ingredients you probably already have in your pantry — then get ready to make some new memories with your kids.
By the way, these oat bars make great treats for kid’s parties and the holiday dessert table! (So are these cream cheese cookies!)
Salted Caramel Oat Bars
Tips for this Easy Oat Bar Recipe
- I use natural, no sugar, peanut butter for this recipe as it helps cut down on the sweetness of the bars, but it works well with any type of nut butter.
- If there are nut allergies in the house, you can substitute with a nut butter alternative such as Sunbutter.
- You can also use any combination of chocolate chips you wish for the top, or even blend chocolate chips and butterscotch chips.
- Using the parchment paper makes it easy to lift the bars out of the pan and makes them easier to cut.
- You can use a 9×13 pan if you wish, the bars will just be thinner.
How to make Oat Bars
I’ve made lots of oat bars over the years but this recipe is by far my favorite! I am totally a sucker for salted caramel anything.
I’ve also tried these with server all different brands of oat cereal. So here is my advice… use the one you actually prefer to eat like cereal. Brands have different textures and levels of sweetness. Use the one you like the best. Just make sure the cereal is fresh. (Please tell me I’m not the only one who has cereal go stale occasionally.)
Once you melt the butterscotch chips, butter, marshmallows, and peanut butter together, pour the wet mixture over the oat cereal – not the other way around. It is much easier to mix that way.
Also, once you melt the chocolate topping together, you’ll want to move pretty fast because the chocolate will start to set once it cools!
We love having these with this peppermint hot chocolate!
Salted Caramel Oat Bars
Equipment
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup butterscotch chips
- 2 1/2 cups marshmallows
- 5 cups oat cereal
Chocolate Topping
- 2/3 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Melt butter in a medium pot over medium heat, then add peanut butter and butterscotch chips. Heat until peanut butter and butterscotch chips are melted.
- Add marshmallows and continue to heat and stir until marshmallows are melted and mixture is well blended.
- Place oat cereal in a large bowl and then pour liquid mixture over top. Mix well with a wooden spoon, then press into a 7x11 pan lined with parchment paper. Press with the back of your spoon or your slightly dampened hand. Set aside.
- Place chocolate chips and butter in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 20-second intervals, removing bowl between intervals to stir. Chocolate is ready when it is smooth. You can also melt over a double boiler on the stove, or a bowl placed over a pot of simmering water.
- Working quickly, pour melted chocolate over the oat squares and smooth out with rubber spatula. Place in the fridge for about 10 minutes until chocolate is beginning to set, then remove and sprinkle with the kosher salt. Return to fridge and allow chocolate to fully set, then cut into squares.
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