Oatmeal Caramel Bars

These are my brother's favorite. It's a layer of oatmeal cookie, a layer of soft caramel, a layer of walnuts, chocolate chips and then topped with another layer of oatmeal cookie. They are easy and delicious!

• Ready In: 47 mins
• Serves: 15-30
• Yields: 30 Bars

Ingredients

• 3  cups quick-cooking oatmeal
• 1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1⁄3 cups light brown sugar, packed
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1⁄3 cups unsalted butter, melted
• 50  caramels
• 4  tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2  tablespoons milk
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3  cups walnuts, chopped
• 2  cups  semisweet mini chocolate chips

Directions

1. In a large bowl, stir together oatmeal, flour, brown sugar, Cinnamon (if using), and baking soda.
2. Add melted butter, stir until all combined.
3. Set aside 2 cups packed oatmeal mixture for the topping.
4. Sprinkle the rest of the oatmeal mixture into a parchment-lined 9x13 baking pan.
5. Pat down with a spatula.
6. Bake for 12 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
7. While the bottom oatmeal crust is baking, start the filling. In a heavy saucepan combine caramels,4 tablespoons of butter, vanilla extract, and milk.
8. Cook and stir over medium heat until all the caramels have just melted.
9. When the bottom crust is done, spread caramel sauce evenly on baked oatmeal crust.
10. Sprinkle walnuts, mini-chocolate chips, and the 2 cups of the remaining uncooked oatmeal mixture, in that order.
11. With a flat spatula, carefully pat down the uncooked oatmeal mixture you just sprinkled on-top until you can't or can barely see the chocolate chips and nuts beneath.
12. Now, bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes or until top is golden.
13. Cool in the pan on a wire rack.
14. After cooled completely, carefully grab the parchemnt you lined the pan with, and lift the cookies out the pan.
15. Cut it into bars.
16. Enjoy!