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OAT NUT CARAMEL BARS aka CARMELITAS adapted from Donuts 2 Crumpets

OMG these are the BEST cookie bars EVER! It has layers of buttery oats, rich chocolate and creamy caramel which make them a SUPER delicious gooey treat.

Prep Time 25 mins Cook Time 25 mins Total Time 50 mins

2 (11 ounce) bags Kraft caramel bits
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 cups quick cooking oats
2 cups packed brown sugar
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, melted
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup FINELY chopped walnuts

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Melt the caramel bits and whipping cream together in a large saucepan over medium heat until smooth. Set aside.
• In a large bowl mix the oats, brown sugar, flour and baking soda until combined well.
• Stir in the meted butter until you have a crumbly mixture.
• Put half the oat mixture in a greased 9×13 pan.
• Bake 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle the chocolate chips and walnuts over the baked base.
• Drizzle the caramel over the chocolate chips (they will be swimming in it.)
• Crumble up the remaining oat mixture into small chunks and gently cover the caramel in as even a layer as possible.
• Bake 15 minutes more.
• Let cool at least 4 hours!

NOTES:

• Let cool for at least 4 hours on a wire rack, but the longer the better, over night is best. Eating it any earlier results in a gooey mess, not bars!
• At holiday time I use disposable pans that can be easily cut away from the cooled bars for quicker assembly of dessert plates.

When I cut off the edges I mush all the leftovers together and roll it into balls that I then coat with chocolate for a little extra treat.