Decadent Sweet Chewy Turtle Bars (Print Version)

Enjoy irresistible bars with sweet caramel, crunchy pecans, and melted chocolate under a buttery oat crumb topping. A chewy delight!

# Ingredient List:

→ Crust & Topping

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup rolled oats
03 - 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
04 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

→ Filling

08 - 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
09 - 1 cup chopped pecans

→ Caramel Layer

10 - 1 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
11 - 1/4 cup heavy cream

# Recipe Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x9-inch baking pan with butter or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, melted butter, salt, and baking soda. Mix until the mixture becomes crumbly and well combined.
03 - Reserve 1 cup of the crumb mixture for the topping. Press the remaining mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust layer.
04 - Bake the crust for 10 minutes until slightly golden. Remove from oven and set aside.
05 - While crust bakes, combine caramel sauce and heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir constantly until smooth and well combined. Remove from heat.
06 - Evenly sprinkle chocolate chips over the warm crust, followed by chopped pecans.
07 - Pour the warm caramel sauce evenly over the chocolate chips and pecans, covering the surface.
08 - Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture evenly over the caramel layer.
09 - Return the pan to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the topping is golden brown and caramel is bubbly.
10 - Remove from oven and cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once fully cooled, cut into 16 squares and serve.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • You get all the indulgence of handmade turtle candies but in an easy, sliceable format that feeds a crowd
  • The chewy oat crust adds incredible texture that you never get in traditional turtle candies
  • These bars actually taste better after sitting overnight, making them perfect for make-ahead entertaining
02 -
  • The most important step is cooling completely before cutting, otherwise the caramel will ooze out and you will end up with a sticky mess instead of neat squares
  • If your caramel sauce is very thick, you may need to add another tablespoon of cream to get it to spreadable consistency
  • These bars taste infinitely better on the second day after the flavors have had time to meld together
03 -
  • Use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between cuts for the most professional looking squares
  • Run your knife under hot water before cutting for extra clean slices through the gooey caramel layer
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