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Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Caramel Squares: Just 7 Ingredients in Bake-Off Favorite

By Niela Frantellizzi, Boca Raton, FL

Warm, rich chocolate, hearty oats, oozing caramel: Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Caramel Squares have it all.

If the ingredients were not enough to entice you as a comfort food, this easy cookie recipe is even more appealing in that it is simple to make.

The recipe calls for just 7 ingredients – and one of them is pre-made cookie dough.

It’s easy to see why the bars were a favorite recipe from the iconic Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest #37 in 1996.

Chocoalte Chip Oatmeal Caramel Squares from Pillsbury Bake-Off #37 by The Cookie Elf

Prep time: about 35-40 minutes, including baking

Bake time: 35-37 minutes, divided

Cooling time: 1 ½ hours

Makes 16-25 squares

Ingredients

1 roll (16-17 ounces) refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough, such as Pillsbury® Create ‘n Bake refrigerated chocolate chip cookies

1 cup quick oatmeal

2/3 cup caramel topping (about 8 ounces)

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

¾ cup chopped walnuts

1 cup (6 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions for Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Caramel Squares

  • Preheat oven to 350º F. Line an 8 x 8 baking pan with foil. Spray foil lightly with vegetable spray.

  • In a large bowl, break up cookie dough. Stir or knead in oatmeal. Set aside ½ cup cookie dough-oatmeal mixture. Press remaining cookie dough into prepared pan.

  • Bake 10-12 minutes or until dough puffs and appears dry.

  • Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together caramel topping, four and vanilla until well blended.

  • Remove baked crust from the oven. Sprinkled crust evenly with walnuts and chocolate chips. Drizzle caramel topping mixture evenly over bars. Crumble reserved ½ cup cookie dough mixture over caramel.

  • Bake bars an additional 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove the pan from the oven and allow it to cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack. Remove bars from the pan by lifting foil ends. Allow bars to cool completely on a wire rack about 1 ½ hours.

  • Cut bars into 4 x 4 or 5 x 5 rows, depending on your preference.

  • Store bars loosely covered at room temperature.

Special Baking Tips for Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Caramel Squares

By baking the lower layer first, you prevent the bar cookie from becoming too soggy. Be sure to press the crust evenly into the pan to ensure uniform baking.

You can bake Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Caramel Squares in a greased pan, avoiding lining it with foil. But bars are much easier to remove when you simply lift the foil liner from the pan.

For cleaner cuts, set the knife in the refrigerator for an hour before cutting squares.


More Elf-Tested Pillsbury Bake-Off Cookie Recipes

Almond Crunch Cookies: easy cookie recipe from Bake-Off #30 ..

Can't Leave Alone Bars: easy cake mix cookie recipe ...

Cherry Oatmeal Cookies Recipe: Bar Cookies With Just 4 Ingredients ...

Choco-Butterscotch Bars: from Bake-Off 22 ...

Chocolate-Cherry Bars: a favorite from Pillsbury Bake-Off #25 ...

Chocolate Chip-Peanut Butter Squares from Bake-Off #38 ...

Cinnamon Toffee Pecan Cookies: just 6 ingredients ...

Lazy Man's Chocolate Chip Bar Cookies recipe: just 4 ingredients ...

Pecan Pie Surprise Bars: easy cookie recipe and Bake-Off #22 winner ...

Pineapple Coconut Bars from Bake-Off #35 ...

White Chocolate Key Lime Calypso Bars: from Pillsbury Bake-Off #40 ...

More of The Elf's Favorite Bar Cookie Recipes

Almond Toffee Bar Cookies: easy "back-of-the-bag" recipe ...

Bar Cookie Recipe: Magic Bars ...

Chocolate Mint Layer Bars ...

Chocolate Toffee Bars: easy, elegant bar cookie recipe ...

Christmas Cookie Bars: white chocolate, cranberries, coconut ...

Christmas Magic Cookie Bars: an easy Christmas bar cookie ...

Cranberry Caramel Date Bars: a luscious, rich bar cookie ...

Cranberry Walnut Squares: holiday bar cookie recipe ...

Lemon Bars: tart and sweet in one bar cookie ...

Oatmeal Fruit Bar Cookies: just use the dried fruit in your pantry ...

Raisin Bar Cookies: easy filled bar cookie recipe ...

Viennese Walnut Layer Bars: layered mocha and walnuts ...


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