CHOCOLATE CARAMEL COOKIE BARS
adapted from https://donuts2crumpets.com/2016/03/caramelitas.html
These are awesome cookie bars with deliciously gooey layers of buttery oats, rich chocolate and creamy caramel.
2 (11 ounce) bags of Kraft caramel ball bits OR 22 ounces creamy Werthers caramels
1 cup whipping cream
2 cups quick cooking oats
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1-1/2 cups – 3 sticks melted butter
1/4 cup spiced rum
1/2 cup golden raisins
2 cups mini semi sweet chocolate chips
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Pour the rum over the raisins and let sit 10 minutes.
- Melt the caramel bits and whipping cream together in a large saucepan over medium heat until smooth. Set aside.
- In a large bowl mix together the oats, brown sugar, flour and baking soda until combined well.
- Stir in the melted butter until you have a crumbly mixture.
- Press half of the oat mixture in to a greased 9×13 pan.
- Bake 15 minutes.
- Drain raisins of excess rum, saving the rum for a yummy drink later.
- Sprinkle the raisins and chocolate chips over the baked base.
- Drizzle the caramel over the raisins and chocolate chips (they will be swimming in it.)
- Crumble remaining oat mixture evenly over the caramel layer.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes more.
- Let cool for AT LEAST 4 hours on a wire rack, but the longer, the better if you can. Try to leave them over night. You can eat them sooner (if you must) BUT be warned you will just have a gooey mess, not bars!
NOTE: I like to keep these in the refrigerator! These bars are even yummier cold in my opinion!