“Salted” Carmelitas

Adapted from my sister’s recipe

Yield – 12 bars

Preparation Time – 15 minutes

Cooking Time – 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter, melted
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp vanilla (or use homemade vanilla extract!)
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 tsp baking soda
• about 3/4 cup chocolate chips
• about 3/4 cup caramel ‘bits’
• 1 Tbsp coarse sea salt

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 350. Line an 8×8 or 7×11-inch glass baking dish with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
• Combine the melted butter, brown sugar and vanilla in small sauce pan.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats and baking soda. Mix the butter mixture in with the dry ingredients and form a loose batter. Press half of the batter into the base of the prepared baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes.
• Let cool for a few minutes, then top with the chocolate chips and caramel ‘bits.’ (If you’re store doesn’t have the ‘bits’ you can cut caramel pieces into 4 small squares. Sprinkle about 1 1/2 tsp sea salt in with the chocolate and caramel bits.
• Take the remaining ‘batter’ and crumble it up and drop it on top of the chocolate and caramels. Sprinkle the remaining sea salt over the batter.
• Bake for another 8-10 minutes, or until top begins to golden. Let cool for about 10 minutes before slicing and enjoying the gooey-goodness from the cookie bars.