Making homemade candy and cookies is a tradition for many families during the Christmas and holiday season. When the kids are home for the holidays, baking fresh cookies and dessert snacks are not only common place, but a great way for kids to learn valuable cooking skills and share in the holiday fun and festivities.
Chocolate caramel bars provide a great way to not only offer the family with a holiday snack, but also friends and/or neighbors. Chocolate caramel bars are also great for parties, and make the perfect Christmas dessert gift.
The recipe for chocolate caramel bars is very “ingredient friendly” and can be altered to fit personal desires. Another positive to changing the recipe is the simple excitement of creating a new flavor for the holiday season.
The standard recipe is a "can’t miss," and something anyone can prepare. However, anyone and everyone can also adopt a new “wrinkle,” and make chocolate caramel bars something the whole family will enjoy this Christmas and holiday season.
RECIPE
Chocolate Caramel Bars
Serves 25-32 (depending on slices and/or personal choice)
Ingredients:
- 2 eggs
- ¾ cup of sugar
- ¾ cup of firmly packed brown sugar
- ½ cup of miracle whip dressing
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 2 cups of flour
- 1 package of caramels
- ¼ cup of milk
- 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup of chopped pecans
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Beat eggs, sugars, and vanilla until the texture is smooth and creamy.
- Add flour and baking soda to the mixed ingredients.
- Reserve a single cup of batter for later use.
- Spread the remaining batter (not the reserved batter) in a lightly greased 13x9 baking dish.
- Promptly cook for 12-15 minutes or until slightly browned.
- Once properly cooked, remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes.
- Retrieve a heavy sauce pan and melt caramels and milk (together) over low heat, while stirring ingredients until smooth.
- Once the caramel mixture is creamy and smooth, promptly pour mixture on top of the freshly baked crust.
- Sprinkle chocolate chips and pecans over the surface of the caramel mixture and crust.
- At this time, collect the reserved batter that has been saved and scoop batter by the teaspoon, and drop and/or place over the pecans.
- Place prepared dish in the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly browned.
- Once the chocolate caramel bars have been cooked accordingly, remove from the oven and allow 10-15 minutes of cooling time.
- Once bars have properly cooled and hardened in room temperature, cut into squares (of personal desired size) and serve.
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