Dulce de Leche Blondies (filled and topped!)

I think it's safe to say that these gooey, lethal bars speak for themselves (well, for the most part anyway)!!!

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Yields: 35 1inch squares

Ingredients

• 2  cups flour
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1  cup butter, softened
• 1  cup  firmly packed light brown sugar or 1  cup dark brown sugar
• 2  eggs
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 (14 ounce) package  caramels
• 1⁄2 cup evaporated milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350*F.
2. Grease a 13x9" baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
3. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
4. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream together the butter and brown sugar until creamy.
5. Add the eggs and vanilla; beat until smooth.
6. Gradually stir in the flour mixture.
7. Spread 1/2 to 2/3 of the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
8. Bake for 7-8 minutes; cool for 5 minutes on a wire rack.
9. Meanwhile, melt the caramels in the evaporated milk in a non-stick saucepan over very low heat; reserve 2 Tbsp.
10. Pour the remaining caramel over the baked bottom layer of dough.
11. Drop dollops of the remaining dough over the caramel layer; swirl slightly with a knife.
12. Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
13. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack; drizzle with the reserved caramel, reheating if necessary.
14. Cut into 1" bars.