pat's Recipe

Caramel Candy-Bar Cookies

Category: Cookies

1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter or margarine
3/4 cup sugar
1 14-oz pkg caramels
1/3 cup evaporated milk (1/2 of 5-oz can)
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

For the cookie crust, combine flour, oats, baking soda and salt. In a mixer bowl, beat the butter for 30 seconds. Add sugar and beat till fluffy. Beat in oat mixture till crumbly. Do not overmix.
Reserve 1 cup of this crust mixture, then press the remainder of the mixture onto the bottom of a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan. Bake the crust layer in a 350 oven for 10 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a saucepan, cook the unwrapped caramels and evaporated milk over low heat till caramels melt and mixture is smooth. Spread over the prebaked cookie crust. Sprinkle the nuts over the top, then the reserved crumbs and choc. chips.
Bake in a 350 oven for 15-20 minutes or till the top crumbs turn golden. Cool in the pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.

makes 32 cookies