Double-Chocolate and Caramel Bars (Cookie Exchange Quantity)

Name: Double-Chocolate and Caramel Bars (Cookie Exchange Quantity)
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 3 h 5 min
Yield: 72
Ingredients: 3 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour; 3/4 cup packed brown sugar; 2/3 cup baking cocoa; 1 egg, beaten; 1 1/2 cups firm butter or margarine; 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts; 1 bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups); 48 caramels; 2 cans (14 oz each) sweetened condensed milk; 1 bag (6 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (1 cup); 1 teaspoon shortening or vegetable oil

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Prep 30 min
Total 3 hr 5 min
Ingredients 11
Servings 72

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Indulge in rich bars that combine favorite caramel and chocolate flavors.

by Qué Rica Vida Cocina

Updated Jan 13, 2010

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Ingredients

Bars

3 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup baking cocoa
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 cups firm butter or margarine
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
1 bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)
48 caramels
2 cans (14 oz each) sweetened condensed milk

Chocolate Glaze

1 bag (6 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (1 cup)
1 teaspoon shortening or vegetable oil

Directions

1

Heat oven to 350°F. Line 15x10x1-inch pan with foil, leaving about 2 inches of foil hanging over sides of pan.
2

In large bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, cocoa and egg. Cut in 1 1/4 cups of the butter, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until crumbly. Stir in walnuts; reserve 3 cups of the crumb mixture. Press remaining mixture firmly in bottom of pan; sprinkle with 2 cups chocolate chips. Bake 15 minutes.
3

Meanwhile, in heavy 2-quart saucepan, melt caramels with sweetened condensed milk and remaining 1/4 cup butter over low heat, stirring constantly. Pour over crust. Top with reserved crumb mixture. Bake about 20 minutes longer or until bubbly. Cool completely, about 2 hours.
4

In small microwavable bowl, microwave 1 cup chocolate chips and the shortening uncovered on High 1 to 3 minutes, stirring halfway through heating time, until melted and thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle over bars. For bars, cut into 12 rows by 6 rows.

Expert Tips

tip 1
Place bars in decorative mini muffin cups. It makes serving a snap.
tip 2
Instead of walnuts, use pecans for a “turtle” flavor combo bar.
tip 3
Bars can also be baked in a 17x11x3/4-inch pan; decrease first bake time to 13 minutes and second bake time to about 18 minutes or until bubbly.