OATMEAL CARAMELITA'S

Oatmeal Caramelitas...i like to call them "CARAMELITA'S WAY"

WOW! these packed little squares are a party in your mouth. i must admit, once again, i didn't read the recipe all the way through. i chose these on the mere fact that i read the word "OATMEAL". i was silly thinking that this single word alone meant "healthy". the photo looked packed with the heart-healthy oat so i tagged the recipe to make after the holidays. you know, fresh new start for the new year?...well, read on my friend...i must have mentally skipped over the 3, YES three! sticks of butter, 1 whole cup of honey and the 2 cups of chips(recipe calls for 1 1/2, but i had to round up) chopped nuts AND CREAM that were bold as ever. somehow i still think they are healthy...somehow i will convince myself this is true...somehow i will find any excuse to make these again.

i found these treats at DANA TREAT- Treat Yourself. by the way, check out her website. it has some great stuff and killer photos. i think i'll be making this Caramel Cake next...YUM!

Dana's recipe found here and copied below with some notes.

Oatmeal Carmelitas

With Love & Butter

18 big bars

1½ cups (3 sticks) butter, at room temperature

2/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

2 cups flour

2 cups oats (quick or old-fashioned)

1 tsp. baking soda

¼ tsp. salt

1½ cups chocolate chips

½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts (DT: I used pecans)

1 cup honey

½ cup half-and-half (DT: I used cream)

Preheat oven to 375° with the rack in the center position. Butter a 9×13-inch baking pan.
Cream the butter and brown sugar together with an electric mixer. Add the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt and combine. Reserve 1/3 of the dough. Press the remaining dough evenly into the buttered baking pan. Bake for 5 minutes, rotate the pan, and bake 5 to 10 minutes longer. The crust should be barely brown. Leave the oven on.
Scatter the chocolate chips and walnuts over the hot crust. Now blob the reserved dough as evenly as you can on top of the chocolate and nuts.
Combine the honey and half-and-half. Heat in the microwave or on the stove until hot but not boiling. Pour the honey cream sauce over the dough and bake 15 to 20 minutes. The bars will be done when they turn a uniformly rich golden color. Cool and cut.

my notes....

i used 2 cups of chips-white chocolate, butterscotch and mini semi sweet. i think these would be killer good with peanut butter chips and cranberries?
and i always throw in extra nuts. i used pecans chopped small for the inside and broken larger pieces for the top.

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