Oatmeal Carmelitas

From Southern Living November 2006 test kitchen's top rated recipes.

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Yields: 24-30 bars

Ingredients

• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 2  cups  uncooked quick-cooking oats
• 1 1⁄2 cups  firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1  cup butter, melted
• 1 (12 ounce) package  semisweet chocolate morsels
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped pecans (optional) or 1⁄2 cup walnuts, toasted (optional)
• 1 (14 ounce) package  caramels
• 1⁄3 cup half-and-half

Directions

1. Stir together first 5 ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
2. Add butter, stirring until mixture is crumbly.
3. Reserve half of mixture (about 2 3/4 cups).
4. Press remaining half of mixture into bottom of a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch pan.
5. Sprinkle evenly with chocolate morsels, and, if desired, pecans.
6. Microwave caramels and half-and-half in a microwave-safe bowl at MEDIUM (50% power) 3 minutes.
7. Stir and microwave at MEDIUM 1 to 3 more minutes or until mixture is smooth.
8. Let stand 1 minute.
9. Pour evenly over chocolate morsels.
10. Sprinkle evenly with reserved crumb mixture.
11. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until light golden brown.
12. Cool in pan on a wire rack.
13. Cut into bars.