Caramel Oatmeal Bars

What could be better than oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips? This. This could be better, because we baked them in bars and added caramel. And we all know that caramel makes everything better.

Think “gooey”. Think “rich”. Think “this has oatmeal in it which makes it almost healthy”. Emphasis on almost.

Healthy these are not. But delicious? Yes!

Here’s how we made them: (printable recipe)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 c. margarine
• 1 c. brown sugar (packed)
• 1 c. sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 c. flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 3 cups uncooked old-fashioned oatmeal (plain, and not instant!)
• 2 cups of chocolate chips 
• 32 Kraft caramels (unwrapped)
• 1 can (14oz) of sweetened condensed milk
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) of butter

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
• Spray a 9×13 cake pan with non-stick spray
• Beat margarine and sugars together in a large mixing bowl until creamy- and yes, I use margarine here- not butter.
• Blend in eggs and vanilla
• Add flour, soda and salt to cream mixture and beat well
• Stir in oats and chocolate chips
• Mix until well combined and press a little less than 1/2 of batter into pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
• While this bakes, combine caramels, condensed milk and butter in a saucepan and heat (stirring constantly) until caramels are completely melted.
• Remove cake from oven and pour caramel over the top. Try to keep it away from the edges of the pan. You won’t be able to do this perfectly, but it is the caramel that sticks to the pan when you go to cut it later.
• Spoon remaining batter over the top of the caramel and bake for an additional 25- 30 minutes- until browned on the top and not “jiggly” in the middle when the pan is moved. 
• Cool completely before cutting. It is easiest to cut after it is even chilled a little bit, and I kept these refrigerated until serving.
• Enjoy!

My thoughts: These are RICH, gooey, happy cookie bars. Cut them small, as they will fill you up fast! I hope you get a chance to try them!  ~r

Other cookie and brownie bars here on easybaked: