No-Bake Peanutty Caramel Bars - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 (14 ounce) package caramels, unwrapped
3/4 cup peanut butter, divided
1/4 cup water
4 cups toasted oat cereal (such as Cheerios(R))
1 cup salted peanuts
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter, softened

Preparation

Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
Combine caramels, 1/2 cup peanut butter, and water in a large microwave-safe bowl. Heat in a microwave oven on high for 1 minute; stir. Continue heating until melted, 1 to 2 minutes more. Add cereal and peanuts; stir well. Spread mixture into the prepared pan.
Combine remaining 1/4 cup peanut butter, chocolate chips, and butter in another microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave oven on high until melted, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Spread over the cereal layer. Chill in the refrigerator until set, at least 2 hours. Cut into 36 bars.