Caramel Pecan Oat Bars

...with chocolate chips, because almost everything is improved with chocolate.  Despite being packed with caramel, chocolate and sugar, the oats make these bars seem almost - dare I say - healthy!?

Recipe adapted from: My Baking Addiction
Ingredients - 21 x 31 cm (8 x 12 inch) brownie tin
290g butter
1 tsp vanilla essence
310g flour
2 cups rolled oats
277g brown sugar
1 tsp bicarb soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cup pecans
1 cup caramel (recipe here)

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 175C (350F).  Line your brownie tin with baking paper.

2. Melt the butter in a large heatproof bowl.  Add the vanilla essence.

3. Mix the flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, bicarb soda and salt into the melted butter until all is combined.

4. Press half of the mixture evenly into the lined brownie tin - this is your base.

5. Bake for about 8 minutes, and chop your pecans into rough chunks.

6. Take the base out of the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips and pecans over it.  Then pour the caramel on top.

7. Using your fingers, break the rest of the oat mixture over the top of the caramel.

8. Bake the slice for another 15 minutes until the top is golden.

9. Let the slice cool before slicing into bars or squares or whatever shape you like.  I dug straight in with a fork and let me tell you, it was amazing!  However, it's much easier to cut the slice up when it's completely cool.

Enjoy!