Chocolate Carmelita Bars

By brownbox

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 C. quick-cooking oats
• 1 3/4 C. flour, divided
• 3/4 C. packed brown sugar
• 3/4 stick butter flavor Crisco shortening (3/4C.)
• 1 Tbs. water
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 C. chopped pecans or walnuts
• 1 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 C. caramel ice cream syrup

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oven to 350*. Coat a 9X13" pan with no-stick spray. Combine oats, 1 1/2C. flour, brown sugar, shortening, water, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Beat with electric mixer on low spped until well blended. Reserve 1 C. oat mixture. Press remaining oat mixture into bottom of prepared pan. Bake 10-12 min. or until lightly browned. Cool 10 min. Sprinkle with pecans and chocolate chips. Combine caramel flavored topping and remaining 1/4C. flour in small bowl. Stir until smooth. Drizzle over chocolate chips. Sprinkle with reserved oat mixture. Bake an additional 18-22 min. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.