Yield: one 9-by-13 inch pan
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25-28 minutes, divided (10 minutes/16-18 minutes)
Total Time: 4+ hours or overnight, for proper cooling
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cup butter, melted (3 stick, salted or unsalted)
- 1 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cup whole-rolled old fashioned oats (not instant or quick cook)
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- pinch salt, optional and to taste
- 35+ caramel squares unwrapped or Caramel bites
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips (whatever covers the whole bottom layer)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line pan with aluminum foil first and then parchment paper. Make sure you cut corners of parchment with slits diagonally to give your parchment raised sides. Lining your pan is highly recommended for ease of cleanup due to the stickiness of the caramel, set pan aside.
2. In a large microwave-safe mixing bowl, add the butter and heat on high power to melt, about 60-90 seconds.
3. Add the brown sugar, vanilla, and whisk until smooth.
4. Add the flour, oats, baking soda, optional pinch salt, and stir until combined. Mixture will be quite thick.
5. Add half of the mixture to the prepared pan (just eyeball it), and smooth it with spatula or the back of a spoon, to create an even, smooth, flat layer; set remainder aside.
6. Baker for 10 minutes. While it bakes, make the caramel sauce.
7. In a large microwave-safe mixing bowl, combine the caramels, cream, and heat on high power in 60-seconds bursts to melt caramels, stirring after each burst. It will likely take about 4 to 5 minutes total to melt; heat until mixture can be stirred smooth. Alternatively, combine caramels and cream in a medium saucepan, and heat over medium-low heat to melt, stirring nearly continuously, until mixture can be stirred smooth. Set aside.
8. After 10 minutes, remove pan from the oven and evenly sprinkle with the chocolate.
9. Slowly and evenly pour caramel sauce over the chocolate.
10. Evenly crumble reserved oatmeal-brown sugar mixture over the top.
11. Return pan to oven and bake for about 15 to 18 minutes (I baked 16 1/2), or until edges are lightly browned and center is bubbling slightly.
12. Allow bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing and serving, giving the molten caramel time to firm up. This can take up to 4 hours, or overnight, at room temperature. You can speed it up by placing the pan in the fridge with a sheet of foil over the top to prevent fridge smells. If you don't wait for bars to cool completely, they'll be a literal hot mess. They'll taste fine (don't burn yourself), but they won't slice neatly with clean cuts. Bars will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
3. Add the brown sugar, vanilla, and whisk until smooth.
4. Add the flour, oats, baking soda, optional pinch salt, and stir until combined. Mixture will be quite thick.
5. Add half of the mixture to the prepared pan (just eyeball it), and smooth it with spatula or the back of a spoon, to create an even, smooth, flat layer; set remainder aside.
6. Baker for 10 minutes. While it bakes, make the caramel sauce.
7. In a large microwave-safe mixing bowl, combine the caramels, cream, and heat on high power in 60-seconds bursts to melt caramels, stirring after each burst. It will likely take about 4 to 5 minutes total to melt; heat until mixture can be stirred smooth. Alternatively, combine caramels and cream in a medium saucepan, and heat over medium-low heat to melt, stirring nearly continuously, until mixture can be stirred smooth. Set aside.
8. After 10 minutes, remove pan from the oven and evenly sprinkle with the chocolate.
9. Slowly and evenly pour caramel sauce over the chocolate.
10. Evenly crumble reserved oatmeal-brown sugar mixture over the top.
11. Return pan to oven and bake for about 15 to 18 minutes (I baked 16 1/2), or until edges are lightly browned and center is bubbling slightly.
12. Allow bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing and serving, giving the molten caramel time to firm up. This can take up to 4 hours, or overnight, at room temperature. You can speed it up by placing the pan in the fridge with a sheet of foil over the top to prevent fridge smells. If you don't wait for bars to cool completely, they'll be a literal hot mess. They'll taste fine (don't burn yourself), but they won't slice neatly with clean cuts. Bars will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
*Jeni*
