Caramel Pecan Bars

These bars are a big favourite with my family at Christmas but they are so yummy, you can serve them any time.

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Yields: 36 bars

Ingredients

• BASE

• 1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3⁄4 cup  lightly packed brown sugar
• 1⁄2 cup oats
• 1⁄2 cup  cold butter
• 1  egg, beaten
• 3⁄4 cup  chopped pecans

• TOPPING

• 1  can sweetened condensed milk
• 25  caramels, unwrapped
• 1⁄4 cup butter

Directions

1. To make the base, combine flour, brown sugar and oats in a large bowl.
2. Cut in butter until crumbly.
3. Stir in egg and nuts.
4. Mix well.
5. Reserve 1-1/2 cups of the crumb mixture.
6. Press the remainder firmly on the bottom of a greased 13" x 9" cake pan.
7. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes.
8. To make the topping, heat the sweetened condensed milk, caramels and butter in a saucepan on low heat, stirring constantly until smoothly melted.
9. Pour over the crust.
10. Sprinkle the reserved crumbs evenly on top.
11. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
12. Cool completely.
13. Cut into bars.