Chocolate Caramel Oatmeal Bars

The sweet Kami from No Diets Allowed is always coming up with the BEST recipes.
Today she’s sharing a crowd-pleaser for us just in time for Thanksgiving!
Take it away Kami…

How lucky am I to be contributing for the very talented Michelle? I LOVE everything she shares (obviously, we have lots in common) and wanted to cook up something special for 4Men1Lady. Insert these chewy, crumbly Chocolate Caramel Oatmeal Bars. They have quickly become my favorite go-to dessert.

So… I have a couple secrets to share. You might want to sit down. Ready for the first? I’m actually not a huge sugar and chocolate fan! This is where most people gasp and give me sympathetic pats on the arm. However, I do have a sweet tooth. Since sugar now gives me an instant headache, I enjoy using healthy, tasty, and sweet substitutes for recipes resulting in satisfying desserts like my Honey Peanut Butter Cookies and Chewy Ooey Gooey Brownies. Now both my mouth and stomach are both happy!

Ready for secret #2? These crumbly Chocolate Caramel Oatmeal Bars make me a hypocrite! These are my favorite go-to holiday treat. I make them for holiday parties, family get togethers, neighbor gifts, and just to indulge on. This is the only time of year I make them and look forward to sharing their chewy goodness with you.

I’ve been cooking up lots of things recently including the most engaging, rewarding, fun, and delicious food blogger conference ever! We’re dedicated to stuffing your minds and stomachs, helping build brand/blogger relationships, and making sure you leave pumped and ready to succeed. With this amazing lineup of popular bloggers, it’s going to be nonstop engagement, fun, and partying.

We have several ticket options including live streaming of the full conference. Our tickets are selling quickly and if you’re unable to actually attend, you can still watch the conference from your own home! We wouldn’t want you to miss out entirely. Register now to come!

Back to these addicting treats. I’ve become a huge fan of whole wheat pastry flour. It keeps baked goods light and fluffy while keeping the nutritional benefits of whole wheat flour. You can use either whole wheat pastry flour or all-purpose flour in this recipe, but I definitely recommend at some point trying whole wheat pastry flour.

One final tip for my fellow moms. It can be tricky baking with young kids. I try to be creative and find ways for my 3 year old to be involved whenever I’m cooking. I gave her the job of unwrapping the Kraft caramels and she was in heaven. It kept her little hands and mind occupied while I worked on the more messy part.

Happy baking, everyone! Enjoy the holidays and every single moment with your families.

Chocolate Caramel Oatmeal Bars

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour or all-purpose flour
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup cold butter, cubed
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans
1 package (11 oz) Krafts Caramels, individually unwrapped
1/2 cup milk (I used coconut milk)

1. In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Set half aside for topping.
2. Press the remaining crumb mixture into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 12 minutes. Sprinkle with the chocolate chips and pecans.
3. In a small microwave-safe bowl, add caramels and milk. Microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted.
4. Drizzle melted caramel over top. Sprinkle with the remaining crumb mixture. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack for at least 2 hours before cutting.
5. Yield: about 4-1/2 dozen.