Oatmeal Caramel Bars

With the holidays behind us, it's time to look forward... to the Superbowl.  Here's a great dessert to bring to the big day: Oatmeal Caramel Bars. They won't win the Most Beautiful award but you can bet that your dessert will come out on top (even if your team doesn't).  

PC: food-pusher.com

Recipe after the jump:

Yield: 3 dozen cookies

Cookie mixture:
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup uncooked oatmeal
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

Topping:
32 caramels, melted
5 tbsp evaporated milk
1 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
3 tbsp flour
optional: 1/2 cup chopped pecans (I did not add them)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  To make the cookie mixture, combine flour, baking soda, oatmeal, brown sugar and melted butter.  Press 1/2 of the mixture into a 9x13 sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.

While cookie mixture is baking, melt the caramels in evaporated milk in a pot.  Stir constantly to prevent burning.  Remove cookie base and sprinkle with chocolate chips and melted caramels.  Mix caramel ice cream topping with flour and pour over caramels.  Top with rest of cookie mixture and press down slightly.

Return to the oven and bake an additional 15-20 minutes.  Cool completely before cutting into squares.