Chewy Gooey Oatmeal Bars

My friend, Cynde, brought these to a play date at the park. They were so yummy, we stopped and bought caramels on the way home so I could make them that very day! Today's batch is for Jason. I keep making them and giving them away. Poor hubby! These are HIS!


Chewy Gooey Oatmeal Bars
(my title but the recipe is courtesy of Cynde/ Martha Stewart)

Ingredients

Vegetable-oil cooking spray
48 soft caramel-candy cubes
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
10 ounces (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips


Directions
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.


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.


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. Makes 1 dozen. (We cut them into 40+ as they're really rich!)


*** Note: These really do taste better the next day. Make them at night. Let them cool while you sleep. What a perfect breakfast- oatmeal bars and a glass of milk. Mmmmmmm ***