1cupquick cooking oats, (also works with old-fashioned oats)
3/4cup brown sugar, packed
3/4cupunsalted butter, melted
1/2teaspoonbaking soda
1/2teaspoonsalt
1cupsemi-sweet chocolate chips, (6 ounces)
1/2 cupchopped pecans, (optional)
Caramel Sauce using store bought caramel sauce:
1/2cuphigh quality caramel ice cream topping, (see note)
3tablespoonsflour
Caramel Sauce using caramels:
34caramel squares, unwrapped
1/2cupheavy cream
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 8" or 9" square baking dish or line with parchment pan. An 8" dish will yield slightly thicker bars.
In a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, oats, sugar, melted butter, baking soda, and salt. Mix to form crumbs. Divide mixture in half. Press half of the mixture in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes.
Sprinkle chocolate chips and nuts (if using) in an even layer over baked mixture. For the Caramel Sauce: There are two ways to make the caramel sauce. 1) If using store bought caramel sauce, in a small bowl, mix 3 tablespoons flour with store bought caramel sauce to thicken it. 2) If using square caramels, heat caramels and cream in a pot on the stove whisking and stirring until smooth.Drizzle caramel filling over chocolate chips and nuts.
Sprinkle remaining oat mixture on top trying to cover most of the caramel. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle with some kosher salt if desired. Cool completely before cutting. This takes a really long time. You can speed these up by placing the bars in the fridge. Serve and store bars at room temperature in an airtight container.
Notes
This can be doubled and baked in a 9x13 baking dish.I've also made these without adding flour to the caramel mixture. Depending how thick your caramel sauce is you may not have to add the flour.Source: My mother-in-law's friend Peggy Rothmeier.