Sometimes I just crave caramel. Here is a simple recipe to sate caramel craving while adding some nutritional value, oats :). These bars are absolutely delicious and will certainly satisfy your sweet tooth. The caramel just oozes through the bar and the extra nuts we added really give the bar the extra crunch to a really moist dessert. This recipe makes a nice size portion that can be cut into small pieces to share with your friends and neighbors (or not!).

Ingredients:

Bar

• 2 sticks butter – melted
• 1.5 cups brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1.5 cups flour
• 2.5 cups oats
• Handful of toasted walnuts or chocolate chips (optional)

Caramel

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tsp salt
• 2/3 cup heavy cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt the 2 sticks of butter in a heavy bottom saucepan over low heat on the stove top. Then in a large bowl, mix the brown sugar and the melted butter together. Add the 2 eggs and vanilla and set aside. In another bowl, add the dry ingredients together and briefly mix with a whisk. In batches, mix the wet and dry ingredients (in 2-3 batches) with a wooden spoon. Mix it enough for it to be homogenous. Then, in a deep baking dish (I used a 8×8 baking dish, but mine is 2″ deep), spread half of the baking mix and bake for 5-7 minutes.During this time, make the caramel. In another saucepan, melt sugar, whisking constantly to prevent burning. When the sugar is melted completely, and then add salt and butter. The caramel will seize, but continue whisking and it will re-dissolve. Finally, add the cream off heat (it will foam quickly, so keep whisking to get it to subside!). Whisk until the sauce is smooth then set aside.

Now back to our bar: cover the cookie dough base with the toasted toasted walnuts and chocolate chips or whatever you are in the mood for. Now, pour the cooled caramel over that. Lastly, spread the remaining cookie dough over the caramel. Baking for about 15 minutes until browned. Enjoy!