Caramel Bars {Secret Recipe Club}

Every month I get excited about getting my blog assignment from Debbi, my group’s leader for the Secret Recipe Club.   I love clicking on the link and then getting immersed in a blog filled with deliciousness and then trying to narrow it down to one recipe to make. 
This month was a tough one for me.  My blog assignment was Cook with Sara.   Sara has an amazing blog with so many wonderful looking recipes.  Sara and I have a lot in common: a love for baking and eating =o), learning to cook at a young age and a Mom who showed her the joys of making a delicious meal.
But here’s the problem.  Sara had too many recipes that I wanted to make!  It was so hard to narrow it down to just one.   Her Caramel Toffee Crunch Cheesecake was on the top of my list, but I knew I’d eat the entire thing by myself so I used all the will power I could muster up not to make it.  Her Greek Layer Dip is now on my to make list (and I’m okay with eating it all by myself!)
Then I saw these Caramel Bars and I knew these were going to be what I made.  I like to make something that I can put half of in the freezer for later.  (Because I seriously will eat them all.)  And I love caramel!  So these were perfect! 
Caramel Bars
* 1 box of yellow cake mix (I used French vanilla because that’s what I had)
* 2 eggs
* 1/3 cup oil
* 1/2 cup butter
* 1 can sweetened condensed milk
* 1 bag of caramels (about 32 caramels or 8 ounces)
* 1 cup milk chocolate chips
In a medium saucepan, melt butter, sweetened condensed milk and caramels and stir until melted and blended.  Remove from heat and set aside to cool.  I used Caramel Bits because they are my favorite =o)  Have you made cookies with these bad boys yet?
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix together cake mix, eggs and oil.  Stir in chocolate chips.
Line a 9×13 inch pan with parchment paper.  I love parchment paper.  Whoever invented it really should win a prize if they haven’t already.  Like a Nobel Peace Prize or something.  It brings me lots of peace =o)
Spread about 2/3 of the batter in the pan.  This was kind of tricky because I didn’t think it would be nearly enough dough.  But it managed to work.
Bake for 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
Pour caramel sauce over cookie.  Top with remaining dough.
Bake for 25 – 30 minutes.  Remove from oven and cool.  The recipe said to cool for about 15  minutes and then cut.  Yah, that was a giant mess.  They were sticky and hot and so didn’t want me to cut them.  So I cooled them completely before I cut them.  But I have to admit, they were amazing when they were warm!!!
So I waited until they were completely cooled before I cut into them.  I LOVE THEM!  They are so good.  The caramel is amazing and gooey but not drippy gooey.  I hate making recipes and the caramel runs all over the place.  This doesn’t.  It’s firm but not hard.  Perfect.
Definitely a keeper!   Enjoy!
Secret Recipe Club
 
I’m linking to the parties on my sidebar.
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Comments

  1. Oh my! These look fabulous! I love caramel 🙂

  2. Oh, YUM! I would have picked these, too!!!

  3. I am so glad you liked these, they are amazingly delicious. And I love using those caramel bits too, unwrapping all those caramels is the worst part!

  4. That layer of caramel is INSANE! It should probably be illegal. YUMMMMY!

  5. Caramel goodness! Looks delish.

  6. You had me at caramel! I’m pinning this one.

  7. Erin: These bars look delish, delish!!! I just wish there was a way to have them delivered at my door.

  8. What a great recipe and looks super tasty. You had me at Caramel!!!!Glad to be part of SRC group C with you!

  9. these look super sweet!

  10. This looks wonderful. My mouth is watering.

  11. These look perfect for a bake sale, with all that gooey caramel who can resist. Plus they look relatively easy to prepare. I’m lovin it.

  12. Oh, I’m dying for these Erin! Caramel and cookies – yes please!

  13. Wow. I think my head just exploded. These are AWESOME!!

  14. oohh can you say YUM
    Pinned
    thanks for sharing with us at “In and Out of the Kitchen Link Up Party”

  15. Hope you are having a great weekend and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

  16. Look delish!

    Thank you for sharing this at Cook, Craft, Create! at The Purple Pumpkin Blog.

    Look forward to seeing what you link up next!

    Happy Wednesday 😀
    Michelle xx

  17. Caramel is so under-used! This is a mouth-watering recipe I know I can’t resist! Thanks for making my day!