Oatmeal Carmelitas

Oh hey.  Carmelita... hmm am I in Mexico? Sure not,  but these bars deserve some serious attention because they are dang good..  For father's day yesterday, my dad wanted me to make a dessert with chocolate and nuts.  Well this has the works- chocolate, nuts, oats, and lots and lots of CARAMEL.  

 I found this recipe at Let's Dish and knew I had to try it. This is definitely a guilty-pleasure recipe, let me tell you.  There is more butter in this than a doubled cookie recipe!  GUILTY but SO worth it!  Well these hit the spot, and my dad sure thought so too.  So here's to fathers, and a little carmel-ita lovin!

Oatmeal Carmelitas

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, very soft
2 cups flour
2 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 cup walnuts or pecans
1/4 cup flour
1(14 ounce) bag Kraft carmels
1/4 cup milk

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a medium bowl, combine butter, 2 cups flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt until crumbly.  Press 1/2 of the crumb mixture into a lightly greased, 9x13 inch baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes; remove from oven.  Meanwhile, in another bowl, stir together chocolate chips, nuts and 1/4 cup flour; set aside.  In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the caramels and milk, stirring frequently until the caramel is melted and the mixture is smooth.  Sprinkle the chocolate chip and nut mixture over the warm crust.  Pour melted carmel over chocolate chip/nut mixture. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the carmel.  Return to oven and bake an additional 15 minutes.  Store completely cooled bars in the refrigerator.


*cheat sheet: you can melt the caramels in the microwave to save time!