Chocolate-Caramel Bars

Submitted by mer5901

"My sweet tooth is just dying to taste these! From Betty Crocker Super Moist Party Cakes"

 

• Ready In: 53mins
• Ingredients: 8
• Serves: 24

ingredients

• 1 (18 ounce) box devil's food cake mix
• 3⁄4 cup butter or 3/4 cup margarine, softened
• 1 egg
• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1 (14 ounce) bag vanilla caramels, unwrapped
• 1⁄4 cup milk
• 1⁄2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1⁄2 cup chopped pecans or 1/2 cup walnuts, if desired

directions

1. Heat oven to 350 F (or 325 F if using dark or nonstick pan). Generously grease bottom and sides of 13x9 inch pan with shortening or cooking spray.
2. In large bowl, beat cake mix, butter,and egg with electric mixer on low speed until well mixed.
3. Stir in oats until crumbly (may need to use hands to mix dough).
4. Reserve 1 1/2 cups cake mixture. Press remaining mixture in pan. (use plastic wrap or waxed paper if mixture is too sticky).
5. In heavy 2 quart saucepan, heat caramels and milk over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until melted.
6. Pour over chocolate layer in pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and pecans.
7. Sprinkle reserved cake mixture on top.
8. Bake 22 to 28 minutes or until caramel bubbles along edges and cake mixture on top appears crisp and dry.
9. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen bars.
10. Cool completely.