Recipe: Caramel-Peanut Butter Bars

1 (18.25) box yellow cake mix

1 cup regular oats

2/3 cup creamy peanut butter

1 large egg, slightly beaten

2 to 3 tablespoons whole milk

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 (12.25) jar caramel ice cream topping

1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly grease a 13x9 inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, combine cake mix and oats.

Using a pastry blender or 2 forks, cut in peanut butter until mixture is crumbly.

In a small bowl, combine egg and milk.

Add to peanut butter mixture; stir just until combined.

Reserve 1 1/2 cups peanut butter mixture.

Press remaining peanut butter mixture into prepared pan.

In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy.

Add caramel topping; beat just until combined.

Carefully spread over peanut butter layer in pan.

Break small pieces; sprinkle over cream cheese layer.

Sprinkle with chocolate morsels.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until nearly set in center.

Cool completely in pan on a wire rack (about 1 hour).

Cut into 8 large bars, and wrap in parchment paper and twine.

Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade magazine March/April 2010