Caramel Cracker Bars

Decadent peanut butter bars made with cracker crumbs are oozing with rich caramel and chocolate! Caramel Cracker Bars are just the treat to bring a little bit of sweetness to your day.

Have you ever made cracker bars? Not to be confused with Brickle Bars or Cracker Toffee. Both tasty but two totally different treats.

Cracker Bars (or Club Cracker Bars) are layers of crispy crackers and chewy caramel, and topped with chocolate. Delish.

The Caramel Cracker Bar recipe I’m sharing today also adds a little peanut butter in the mix because, why not?

You’re already putting butterscotch, caramel and chocolate into one dessert bar so you might as well go all out and get some peanut butter in there, too!

What are Club Cracker Bars

I first knew of these bars as “Club Cracker Bars” because I believe they were originally made with club crackers. You can also make these with Ritz crackers.

The taste combo of salty crispy cracker crumbs with gooey sweet caramel is a thing of beauty.

If you like cracker toffee, you’ll love these bars. The idea is similar except these are a softer and chewier bar with layers of cracker crispiness throughout.

Caramel Cracker Bars are extremely rich and completely decadent tasting which makes them great for sharing.

Just one club cracker bar can satisfy my sweet tooth. . . for an hour or so at least. Then, I’ll gladly help myself to another thank-you-very-much. Make them for yourself and you’ll see what I mean.

You’ll be welcomed anywhere if you have a plate of these to share!

No Bake Treats

Did I mention this also happens to be a no-bake club cracker dessert? Perfect for hot summer days when you don’t want to turn on your oven, or when you don’t have time to monitor a pan of bars while they bake.

You just layer everything in a baking pan and let it set up in the fridge until firm. I recommend making these the night before and allowing them to set in the fridge overnight.

(Yes, you’re allowed to eat dessert for breakfast in these situations. I’ve decided.)

What You’ll Need

Here’s what you need to make these bars:

{Ingredients at a glance; scroll down for full printable recipe with ingredient amounts}

• Club crackers (or Ritz)
• Graham cracker crumbs
• Butterscotch chips
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Butter
• Peanut Butter
• Granulated Sugar
• Brown Sugar
• Milk

How to Make Club Cracker Bars

STEP 1. In saucepan, heat graham cracker crumbs, sugars, butter and milk. Bring to a boil and continue stirring while boiling for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

STEP 2. In foil lined (and buttered) 13×9 baking dish, layer club crackers over bottom. Pour half of caramel mixture over crackers, then lay another layer of Club crackers over caramel mixture, and remaining caramel.

Repeat with one more layer of crackers. Refrigerate while continuing with the next step.

STEP 3. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt butterscotch and semi sweet morsels with peanut butter. Stir until smooth and creamy.

STEP 4. Remove the pan of crackers and caramel from the fridge. Pour the butterscotch mixture over the crackers and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or over night.

Cut into bite sized pieces and serve cold!

Tips and Tricks

• Make your own graham cracker crumbs by pulsing whole Graham crackers in a food processor to form sand-like crumbs.
• Store these caramel dessert bars in the fridge in an airtight containers. They can soften quickly at room temperature so I prefer to eat them cold!
• These treats freeze beautifully, too! After cutting into pieces, transfer to a freezer-safe container with wax paper between each layer of bars to keep them from sticking. Let thaw in the fridge when ready to serve.

More Easy Desserts

• Peppermint Cracker Toffee
• Banana Pudding
• Rice Krispie Treats
• S’mores Cookie Bars
• Oreo Toffee

Recipe originally published June 23, 2011. Photos updated May 23, 2019.

If you love cracker toffee and club cracker desserts, Caramel Cracker Bars are bound to become your new favorite treat! For a party, an after dinner dessert or a midday snack, everyone loves these heavenly caramel bars.