Caramel Bars

These bars are a hit every time that they are made. My mom always made them when we were growing up and they remain a favorite today. One of these beats a candy bar any day! :-)

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 24
• Yields: 24 bars

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups flour
• 1  cup brown sugar
• 1 1⁄2 cups oatmeal (either kind)
• 1  cup butter (melted) or 1  cup margarine (melted)
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 3⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 (14 ounce) bag  caramels
• 8  tablespoons milk or 8  tablespoons  cream
• 1  cup chocolate chips

Directions

1. Mix above ingredients together (flour through baking soda) and press into bottom of 9 x 13" cake pan. Reserve about 1 1/3°C of crumbs for top.
2. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes (I bake for 10 minutes) until light brown.
3. Meanwhile: Unwrap and melt 1 bag of caramels with 8 Tbs. of cream (I use milk) in microwave on medium - low temperature
4. Sprinkle 1 - 1 1/4°C chocolate chips over baked crust (no need to cool) and pour caramel mixture over top.
5. Add reserved crumbs by sprinkling over and bake at 350 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes (I bake for 15 minutes) more.
6. Cool before cutting.