My work was holding a cookie contest and I always love to enter. First, there are cookies. Second, it’s a fun time. Third, did I mention the cookies? The first thing I had to decide, however, was what to bake. So I put out a call on twitter, and that call was answered by one of my favorite twitteres chefashbabe. She runs a great blog called “Memoirs from My Kitchen” and she recommended that I make these awesome Chocolate Caramel Bars. The name alone had me hooked, so I though I would share this great recipe with you. Ready?

First the ingredients:

• 1 Cup All Purpose Flour
• 1/4 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Butter
• 2 Cups coarsely chopped Pecans
• 1 Cup Flaked coconut
• 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 20 vanilla caramels
• 2 Tbs. Milk
• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

* NOTE: I made a double batch, but the recipe here is for a single batch.

1. Preheat oven to 350°f.
2. For crust, in a medium bowl stir together flour and brown sugar.

3. Cut the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.

4. Press flour mixture into the bottom of a 9 x 13 x 2 inch baking pan.

5.  Bake 15 minutes.

5.  Sprinkle coconut and nuts (if using, I didn’t in this recipe) over partially baked crust.

6.  In a small bowl stir together sweetened condensed milk and vanilla

7.  Pour over coconut and nuts.

8.  Bake for 25-30 minutes more or until set.

9. Let stand in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes

10.  In a small saucepan combine caramels and milk.

11. Heat and stir over medium-low heat just until caramels melt. (this picture shows them about halfway melted, but remember that they need to be all the way melted, a smooth, milky mixture)

12. Drizzle caramel mixture over baked mixture. Sprinkle top with chocolate chips.

13.  Cool completely and cut into bars.

And here is a shot of the finished product at the judging today.

I didn’t win the competition but eating these yummy bars will be prize enough. Thanks again to Chefasbabe, and I will be visiting your blog again soon for some more yummy treats.