Shelly's Recipe

PEANUT BUTTER CARAMEL BARS

Category: Bars

Crust:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups pecan halves

Topping:
1 (14 oz) pkg caramels, unwrapped
2 tbsp Half & Half or milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 (11.5 oz) pkg milk chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375. Combine sugar, brown sugar, butter and peanut butter in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add egg; continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add flour, baking powder and salt. Beat until dough forms. Press dough evenly into ungreased 15x10x1 inch baking pan. Sprinkle pecans evenly over dough. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until crust is lightly browned around edges.

Meanwhile, place caramels and half & half in 2-quart heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth (6 to 11 minutes). Stir in vanilla. Drizzle caramel mixture evenly over pecans; sprinkle with chocolate chips. Cool completely (about 3 hours) at room temperature. Cut into bars.