Today I’m breaking the rules of search engine optimization, and I’m breaking the admittedly lax rules I set for my blog. From the beginning I wanted this to be a food blog, not an issue blog or a lifestyle blog or a feelings blog.
But on February 11 I found out that my amazing dog, Goldie, had a very aggressive and untreatable form of cancer. That day the vet gave her three to six months to live; she died on March 16.
For seven and a half years, being Goldie’s mom was my primary defining characteristic. I was her mom even more than I was a daughter or a sister or even a sugar fiend. It feels like, in losing her, I’ve lost my own identity.
I miss her so much I feel like I’m crawling out of my skin—I’m that frantic to make the pain go away. And Goldie was always my comfort; she licked my tears away when I cried and cuddled up with me when I had a migraine. Just holding her made me feel better. She was living, breathing Xanax, but better because Xanax can’t love you back.
Goldie was perfection, perfection in a fur coat. She was the embodiment of love, 18.2 pounds of joy, sweetness, and light.
Goldie and I filled the last weeks of her life with long walks, trips to the beach, and EXTRA treats—she took after me in that she wanted to eat basically anything she could put in her mouth.
And I just soaked up every cuddle and snuggle and smile she’d give me. THAT SMILE! I miss that puppy’s smile so much.
Anyway, my food blog (for one day only) is a forum to express my feelings.
And that leads me to today’s recipe: The Goldie Bar, a tribute to the best friend I’ve ever had. Goldie loved peanut butter like nothing else so any tribute to her has to be full of peanut butter-y goodness. And I stuffed these bars with caramel because Goldie was a very lovely light caramel color. That peanut butter and caramel are an irresistible combo doesn’t hurt, either.
They’re very similar to these salted caramel bars, but even better because they’re made with peanut butter and have the extra crunch of peanuts on top. This bar is a peanut butter shortbread base with a peanut butter crumble topping, and a creamy and gooey caramel filling. They’re almost as perfect as their namesake.
And trust me, these bars are good enough to make even the grumpiest person smile (almost) as big as Goldie used to. Thank you for letting me vent today. Please make these bars for yourself as a reward for putting up with me :).
- 3/4 cup butter, at room temperature
- 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 36 caramels, unwrapped
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cold butter
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup chopped salted peanuts
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease an 8- by 8-inch baking pan or line with parchment paper and set aside.
- Combine butter, peanut butter, sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add flour and beat on low just until flour is combined.
- Press dough into prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes.
- Place caramels and milk in a microwave-safe bowl and melt caramels in the microwave, stirring often, until mixture is smooth. Spread evenly over cookie base.
- Combine flour and sugar in a small bowl. Using a pastry cutter, a fork, or your fingers, cut in butter and peanut butter until mixture forms crumbles the size of peas. Stir in peanuts.
- Sprinkle mixture over the caramel filling and return cookies to the oven for 8 to 9 minutes more, until topping has melted somewhat into the filling. Cool cookies completely before cutting into bars and serving.
Peanut butter crumble topping adapted from My Recipes.
Jacqueline Determan says
You are simply incredible!!! Goldie is smiling that big smile in doggy heaven! Can’t wait to try these bars. Love you ❤️
Kelsie says
Thank you, Jacqueline! Love you too!
CarolY says
A lovely tribute. And the recipe sounds wonderful.
Kelsie says
Thank you, Carol!
Bill says
Kelsie again so sorry for your loss. Goldie had lots of love and I know Cookie will be loved the same. Bill
Kelsie says
Thank you, Bill!
Cindy Thompson says
So sorry you lost Goldie, you might have lost Goldie’s ‘real’ life but between the two of you, you’ll always be living in the memories and the love the two of you shared! She was a lucky puppy to have you for her furrever mom!
I love peanut butter and caramel and I’ll be making, and enjoying, these in her honor! Hugs ?
Kelsie says
Thank you, Cindy. Enjoy the cookies!
Bessie says
Kelsie,
I’m so glad you had such a good last few weeks with your precious pup. Those bars were delicious and an amazing tribute to Goldie! Thank you for the goodies you supply our office every Tuesday! You have been my Tueaday morning rock from the start and I can’t thank you enough for your time with me.
Love you,
Bessie
Kelsie says
Thank you, Bessie! Bringing you guys treats is the highlight of my week :)! Love you too!
Christina says
What a lucky dog to be able to have a dog mom like you!! I’m so sorry for what you’re going through. I will make these bars and toast then to Goldie. I’m probably have a couple extras because one, that’s the right the to do…and two, is peanut butter and caramel 🙂 hugs and kisses to Goldie!
Christina says
Pardon the typos. New annoying phone 🙂
Kelsie says
Don’t you love autocorrect? 🙂
Kelsie says
Thank you so much, Christina. Goldie would definitely approve of extra cookies!
Cindy says
Oh Kelsie, I’m so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful tribute to your darling Goldie. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. xx
Kelsie says
Thank you so much, Cindy.
Nancie Bogardus says
Kelsie, I am sorry for your loss. Goldie must have been very special and she was so lucky to have you as her “mom”. I know you took good care of her and loved her. I hope you find comfort in the memories of the love and champion ship she provided you.
Kelsie says
Thank you, Nancie! She was such a special dog.
Lisa says
What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful dog! Thank you for sharing, Kelsie. I’m crying and now I need to make those bars …
Kelsie says
Thank you for the kind words, Lisa!