Oatmeal Bars

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Yield:
1 dozen

Chocolate-caramel-oatmeal squares are perfect for a school bake sale or an after-school snack.

Ingredients

  • Vegetable-oil cooking spray

  • 48 soft caramel-candy cubes

  • ½ cup heavy cream

  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar

  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 10 ounces (2 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9-by-13- inch baking pan with cooking spray. Line with a 9-by-21-inch sheet of parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on each short side. Put caramels and cream in a small saucepan; cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until caramels are melted, about 5 minutes. Let cool.

  2. Stir together oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and the salt in a large bowl. Blend in butter with a fork or your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal; press half of mixture onto bottom of lined pan. Bake until just set and starting to color around edges, about 20 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 5 minutes.

  3. Sprinkle crust with chocolate chips; drizzle with caramel mixture. Top with remaining crumb mixture. Bake until pale golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely in pan before cutting into squares.

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