Caramel Cookie Bars

I found this recipe on an ad for Parkay. (I always bake with real butter, but I'm sure these would be good with margarine too.) I know from experience these freeze well.

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Yields: 32 bars

Ingredients

• 3⁄4 cup butter, softened and divided
• 1  egg
• 1 (16 5/8ounce) box  chocolate chip cookie mix
• 2  cups  crisp rice cereal
• 1 (14 ounce) bag  caramels (about 50)
• 1⁄4 cup  whipping cream
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F Blend 1/2 cup butter and the egg in a medium bowl. Add cookie mix and beat until well blended. Stir in cereal. Set aside 1 1/2 cup of the dough. Press remaining dough onto bottom of well-greased 11x7 inch pan. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
2. Place remaining 1/4 cup butter, the caramels, and the whipping cream in medium saucepan. Cook over low heat ten minutes or until caramels are completely melted. Stir constantly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour over baked crust. Drop reserved 1 1/2 cups of dough by tablespoon evenly over caramel.
3. Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cook two hours in pan on wire rack. Cut into 32 bars.