Chocolate Caramel Oatmeal Bars - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup quick oats
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1 (14 ounce) package caramels, unwrapped (48 caramels)
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
1 cup chopped pecans, divided

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350\u00b0F.
Combine all crumb ingredients in a large bowl, stopping after adding the salt. Beat at medium speed until mixture is crumbly (about 3 minutes). Reserve 1 cup of crumb mixture.
Press remaining crumb mixture into bottom of a 13x9 inch pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
Combine milk and caramels in a saucepan. Cook over medium low heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture is creamy.
Sprinkle partially baked crust with 1 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup chopped pecans.
Pour caramel mixture evenly over chips and nuts. Sprinkle evenly with reserved crumb mixture and pat lightly.
Bake for 18-22 minutes or until caramel is bubbly around the edges.
Cool completely. Melt the remaining cup of chocolate chips and spread over the top. Sprinkle with remaining nuts and pat lightly.
When chocolate hardens, cut into bars.