Caramel-Pecan Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients

• 0.8 cup butter melted
• 25  individually wrapped caramels 
• 1 cup pecans chopped
• 2.5 cups oats uncooked
• 11.5 oz semi chocolate chips 
• 1 tablespoon water 
• 18.3 oz cake mix yellow

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• oven
• wire rack
• aluminum foil
• microwave
• cutting board

Directions

1. Place pecans in a single layer in a 13- x 9-inch pan.
2. Bake at 350 for 4 to 5 minutes or until toasted, stirring occasionally.
3. Remove nuts from pan.
4. Line bottom and sides of pan with aluminum foil, allowing 2 to 3 inches to extend over sides; lightly grease foil.
5. Stir together cake mix and oats in a large bowl. Stir in butter with a fork until mixture is crumbly and dry ingredients are moistened. Press half of oat mixture evenly onto bottom of prepared pan.
6. Sprinkle chocolate morsels and toasted pecans evenly over oat mixture in pan.
7. Sprinkle with remaining oat mixture.
8. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until top is golden brown.
9. Microwave caramels and 1 Tbsp. water in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 minute or until caramels are melted.
10. Drizzle evenly over warm bars in pan.
11. Let cool on a wire rack 1 hour or until completely cool.
12. Lift baked bars from pan, using foil sides as handles.
13. Place on a cutting board, and cut into 24 bars.