Salted Caramel Pecan Oatmeal Fudge Bars

What a mouthful of a title. But, yummy. JUST INDULGE YOUR SENSES WITH THIS GLORIOUS PHOTO. These gooey bars take only 15 minutes of prep time and are the perfect pair with family get-togethers, BBQs, and other summertime celebrations.

Why this recipe this week? Might as well bring it back to where it all began. Wednesday night and I was at work. I receive a text from my mother asking if I'd like to come home for supper. Hesitantly, I replied "I don't think so tonight. I have to wake up at 4 am and won't leave work until 8 pm." To my text, she replied, "but dad's making venison steak and you can just stay overnight like what you've normally done." Those two words venison steak and I was done.

Fast forward past the enjoyment of steak, sweet potatoes, and vegetables before bedtime to Thursday morning at 4 am. In my sleepy daze, my eyes catch sight of a container with a label. The label reads "oatmeal, nuts, salted caramel bars." Salivating, I peel off the cover and plop one into my mouth. Lemme start by saying, oh boy. It tasted great. So, it only meant that I'd need another- which is what I did as I was heading out the door. My morning instantly got better because of this bar. It was just the right amount of sweetness mixed with wholeness and goodness.

Now, I'd like to share the recipe with you. My aunt made these bars (she's an astounding baker.) Again, I don't have the exact recipe but this one looks like it's pretty close! Prepare for deliciousness in 5...4....3....2....1...

Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1/3 cup milk or half n' half
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats

FUDGE LAYER

• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk

CARAMEL LAYER

• 2 cups caramels
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
• 1/4 cup Diamond Shake & Spoon Chopped Pecans

INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13 inch pan with foil and grease with cooking spray.
• Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla, and milk and mix until combined. In another bowl stir together flour, salt, and oats.
• Combine wet and dry ingredients and mix well. Spread 2/3 of the batter into the bottom of your prepared pan.
• In a medium saucepan combine chocolate chips and condensed milk and sit over medium heat until completely melted and smooth. Pour into pan over the layer of oatmeal batter.
• In a microwave-safe bowl combine caramels and heavy cream and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Stir and return to microwave 20 seconds at a time, stirring after each, until smooth. Pour over the fudge layer.
• Drop teaspoons of remaining dough over the caramel until the remaining dough is used up. Sprinkle sea salt and pecans over the top. Bake for 25 minutes. Allow cooling completely before cutting into bars.

Thanks for Creme de la Crumb for the recipe. It looks delicious. Check out this link for the recipe and their website for more appetizing recipes. https://www.lecremedelacrumb.com/salted-caramel-pecan-oatmeal-fudge-bars/

~ Coach Karina, BS-Kinesiology, CF L1 trainer, USAW Sports Performance Coach