Shelly's Recipe

CHOCOLATE CHIP, OATS AND CARAMEL COOKIE SQUARES

Category: Bars

1 (16.5 oz) roll refrigerated chocolate chip cookies
1 cup quick-cooking oats
Dash salt, if desired
2/3 cup caramel ice cream topping
5 tbsp flour
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup semi-sweet baking chips

Preheat oven to 350. In large bowl, break up cookie dough. Stir or knead in oats and salt. Reserve 1/2 cup dough for topping. In ungreased 9-inch square pan, press remaining dough mixture evenly in bottom to form crust. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until dough puffs and appears dry.

In small bowl, mix caramel topping, flour and vanilla until well blended. Sprinkle walnuts and baking chips evenly over crust. Drizzle evenly with caramel mixture. Crumble reserved 1/2 cup dough mixture over caramel. Bake 20 to 25 minutes longer or until golden brown. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen bars. Cool completely, about 1 hour, 30 minutes before cutting into bars. Store tightly covered.