Peanut Butter & Caramel Cookie-Jacks

Sometimes it's just too hard to decide or choose what to bake and so, a new creation is created...

Cookies are BIG in our household and so are flapjacks, although cookies always seem to win the vote. Question is though, what do you do when you just can't decide or the vote is 50/50 - you combine them of course and create a truly AWESOME recipe... Let us present, 'COOKIE-JACKS'

Cookie-Jacks are what you get, when you combine together a layer of golden honey flapjack and a layer of chunky vanilla cookie. These two delicious sweet treats then act as a sandwich for a thick layer of smooth peanut butter & doce de leite (aka caramel).

It's gooey, chewy and slightly crumbly and melts in your mouth, especially when its served warm...

My mouth is watering just thinking about it...

Of course, when you are experimenting with recipes anything can happen. Some experiments are truly disastrous and some are just pure genius and meant to be. Thankfully, this combo was meant to be. The kids loved it, the hubby loved it and so did I.

The combination of peanut butter and doce de leite are so good and if you've never tried dolce de leite, then I'm sure you're going to love it - it's AMAZING! It's just like caramel, only better, however if you can't get your hands on it, caramel works just as good. Let's face it, caramel is AMAZING too...

This is delicious hot or cold and if you do serve it hot, it's almost like a pudding and is delicious served with custard or a scoop of vanilla ice-cream.

Cold is just as good and if like me, you'll find yourself going back for more & more...

Let's get on to the recipe...

Happy Baking!

The Chai Home 😋

INGREDIENTS

For the flapjack

• 200g butter

• 180g demerara sugar

• 20g caster sugar

• 400g oats

• 1x capful vanilla extract

For the cookie

• 300g of plain flour

• 130g of butter

• 100g of caster sugar

• 100g of light muscovado sugar

• 1 tsp of bicarbonate of soda

• 1 egg

• 2 tsp of vanilla extract

• pinch of salt

For the filling

• 1x cup of smooth peanut butter

• approx 1/2 cup of doce de leite (add more if you desire)

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180C and line a 20 x 30 baking dish (we prefer to use a silicone baking mat)

Let's start with the flapjack.

In a medium sized saucepan add all of the ingredients except from the oats.

On a medium heat melt the ingredients while stirring almost continuously, until all the ingredients have fully combined. Once fully melted remove from the heat and then add the oats. Using a spatula combine together until the oats are fully and evenly coated.

Transfer to your lined dish, spread evenly along the base and compress well with the back of the spatula. Ensure it's an even layer.

Transfer to the fridge to set slightly while you start your cookie base.

Melt the butter in a small saucepan and then add both the sugars.

Mix together well until the sugars have completely dissolved into the melted butter and then remove from the heat.

In a large mixing bowl add the flour, bicarb, salt and mix together with a spoon or your hands well and set to one side.

Add the vanilla extract and the egg and whisk together by hand until everything is fully incorporated (you need to move fast on this bit or else the egg will start cooking).

Add this to the dry ingredients and mix together well. Put to one side.

Remove the flapjack mixture from the fridge.

Add your peanut butter to the top of the flapjack and spread evenly.

Dot teaspoons of the docce de leite or caramel spread over the peanut butter and then spread.

Now it's time to add your cookie layer. We find it best to take pinches of the cookie dough and place them on top and then using the back of a spoon or your hands, spread the cookie dough out as evenly as you can.

Place on the top shelf of the oven and bake for 30 minutes.

Either serve warm as a delicious pudding or leave to cool completely in the tray before cutting to your desired slices.

For it to hold its shape it will need to be fully cold.

Delicious hot or cold and if serving hot it pairs perfectly with custard or a scoop of vanilla ice-cream.

Either way - Enjoy!