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You GUYS.  This is my summer for all things ice cream.

Layered Caramel Buster Bars | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Between blog recipes, freelance recipes and book recipes, my two freezers have been jam-packed with homemade ice creams, popsicles and bars for a solid month now. It’s sort of a problem, but only because I have zero room left in my freezer for anything else. It’s a really good thing I hike daily and am on my feet most days of the week, cause I swear it’s the only reason I’m not three-hundred pounds. It’s kind of been A LOT of food the last few months, both sweet and savory. I’m not complaining, but my dad is probably way over his daily trips to the grocery store, and the massive piles of dishes upon dishes, upon DISHES…upon DISHES.

Literally.

Also, I don’t know what I would have done without him this last year. Life saver and bestest dish washer known to man, guy has got skills.

Can you tell I am nearing the end of this whole book thing? Well, not really the end-end, but the end of the planning, recipe development, recipe testing, and writing the manuscript part. I hopefully have only about a week left, then it’s time to send the manuscript off to my editor. Trust me, you will know what day this happens because I will not be able to contain my excitement. So ready to move on to the next stage…the photos!

We’ll talk more about the book next week though, after I get like a full nights sleep and can reflect on the process with a bit clearer head. Today let’s talk about these layered caramel Buster Bars. These EPIC bars that are easy, and possibly one of my favorites of the summer…or well, until I make a new favorite that is! 🙂

Layered Caramel Buster Bars | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvestLayered Caramel Buster Bars | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

So you guys all know about Dairy Queen Buster Bars, right? Actually, I never ordered them, I was more of a classic chocolate soft serve kind of girl, but every time I would go to DQ with my Nonnie, she’d always get the Buster Bar. To be fully honest with you guys, I am not sure I’ve ever actually had a DQ Buster Bar. Oddly, that’s what inspired these bars I am sharing with you today.

They’re kind of like a DQ Buster Bar…but better (or so I’m told). I mean, obviously.

Layered Caramel Buster Bars | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Here’s how these go.

…start off with a layer of caramel. You can make your own or use store-bought. If you’re looking for a good homemade caramel, I used this salty one from my caramel cake recipe.

…from there, add a layer of vanilla ice cream.

…then a layer of fudge sauce and a sprinkle of roasted peanuts. I used my homemade fudge sauce, but store-bought works too!

…finish with a layer of chocolate ice cream.

…freeze, freeze, FREEZE.

…peel away the paper Dixie cup.

…dip that caramel layer in chopped peanuts.

…now dip the whole bar in homemade magic shell.

…EAT. 🙂

DONE. Homemade caramel Buster Bar! So fun, right?!?! And like I said, way better than DQ, cause I mean, salty caramel. Duh.

Buster Bars for the win!!! Isn’t summertime the BEST? Gotta love it. 🙂

Layered Caramel Buster Bars | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Layered Caramel Buster Bars | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvestSIDE NOTE: I tried so hard to have my younger brother, Red help me capture some action shots, because one, he happened to walk in my door at just the right time, and two, because little Asher was ‘too busy’ to help me out (no, for real, she’s getting too cool for her big sis).

Let me just say this, using Red to promote anything other than say, Burton luggage, is a BAD idea. Kid cannot stand still for even a second. All the photos I got of him where blurry, and weird. UGH. That kid needs to learn some focus or something. YIKES.

That said, he loves these bars, but then, who wouldn’t?

Layered Caramel Buster Bars | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvestLayered Caramel Buster Bars | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Okok and now I will stop my Friday rambles, and demand that we all go make Buster Bars. Ahh, maybe not demand, because that sounds a little harsh, BUT I highly recommend it. I mean, it’s Friday after all, and you can have these prepped and into the freezer in just about thirty minutes…then they’ll be ready for an epic Friday night dessert.

DO IT.

Layered Caramel Buster Bars | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Layered Caramel Buster Bars.

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Freeze/Rest 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 12 Bars
Calories Per Serving: 592 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups softened vanilla ice cream
  • 1 cup fudge sauce
  • 1 cup caramel
  • 1 1/2 cup roasted peanuts roughly chopped, divided
  • 2 1/2 cups chocolate ice cream softened

Chocolate Shell

Instructions

  • Layer on the softened vanilla ice cream into the bottom of 10-12 (3 ounce) dixie cups. Freeze 30 minutes to 1 hour.
  • Spoon 2-3 teaspoons of the fudge sauce and 1-2 teaspoons of caramel over the vanilla ice cream and sprinkle with chopped peanuts. Layer on the chocolate ice cream and then over the ice cream, spoon another 1-2 teaspoons of caramel. Freeze 15 minutes and then remove and insert popsicle sticks. Freeze until completely firm, at least 4-6 hours or overnight.
  • Combine chopped chocolate and coconut oil in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Stir frequently until chocolate is almost melted. Remove from heat and stir until completely melted and smooth. Allow to cool 15-minutes before dipping the bars.
  • Remove the bars from the freezer one at a time. Peel away the dixie cups and dip the bottom caramel layer of each bar into the remaining chopped peanuts, pressing the peanuts firmly into the ice cream to adhere.
  • Working quickly, hold the bar by the popsicle stick and dip it into the melted chocolate until the ice cream is completely covered. Let any excess chocolate drip back into the bowl. Allow to set 1-2 minutes. Eat or return to the freezer. Keep bars stored in the freezer.
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Layered Caramel Buster Bars | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Hehe. Happy Friday! Hope it’s filled with hot weather and a dozen ice cream bars!

Layered Caramel Buster Bars | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

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Comments

  1. I just made these and, while they are totally delicious inspire of it, the caramel stuck to the top of every single Dixie cup. When I look at your photos, I don’t see the caramel layer in your two cross section photos either. Did the caramel stuck for you, too? If not, how do you keep it from sticking? I love caramel and was so bummed to toss it all in the garbage!

    1. OH no! I am so sorry the caramel stuck to the top, I had some issues with that, but for the most part, it stayed on pretty good. Was your caramel super runny? That is where I had issues, so I thickened the caramel up a bit. I think I will adjust the recipe so that you end with a layer of ice cream. That way there should be no issues. SO SORRY! Let me know if you have any more questions. Thanks and happy 4th of JUly!

  2. Wauuuuw this is so amazing, if you ever consider making a video of the making, I’d love it 😀

    Maybe cause I’m soooo clumsy making these, I mean, they melt soooo fast ???

    Have a great weekend!!!

  3. Yay for Dad! And yay for these Popsicles Tieghan! Loving the layers! Perfect summer treat!!