Caramel Bars

It's Secret Recipe Club Reveal Day! This month, I was assigned Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker. Kristen has lots of great recipes on her blog, and I bookmarked several more to make in the future. But as soon as I saw this recipe, I knew it was the one I would make.

I absolutely adore all things caramel, and I had a yellow cake mix languishing in my pantry, so the choice was obvious. And it was a great choice. I may have to send Kristen a bill for the stretch pants I will now need to purchase, since I have eaten more than my "fair share," snuck right out of the fridge. I did also bring them to work where my colleagues gave these bars a double thumbs up. So all in all, a great recipe to add to the collection.

Start by combining the butter, sweetened condensed milk



and caramels in a medium saucepan.



(So, already you know this is going to be good. Butter, sweetened condensed milk and caramels????? Sign me up. Oh, I guess I'm already signed up.)

Cook over medium low heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture is smooth.



Then remove from the heat and let it cool. While it's cooling, combine the cake mix, eggs, milk and oil



in a large mixing bowl and beat until well combined. Then stir in the chocolate chips.



Now spread about 3/4 of the cake mixture into a greased cake pan.



Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then cool for another 10. Then top with that amazingly delicious caramel sauce.



Dollop the remaining cake mix over the caramel.



Return the bars to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top cake mixture is golden.



Let the bars cool for 15 minutes, then cut them (believe me, you'll want to do this now!) and pop them in the fridge. Let them cool in the fridge for at least an hour (time to go buy some stretch pants!), and refrigerate any leftovers.

Be sure to visit all the other Secret Recipe Club members below.

One year ago: August Pie
Two years ago: Banana Blueberry Coffeecake

Find more great stuff at Mouthwatering Monday, Mangia Monday, Your Recipe, My Kitchen, Make a Food "E" Friend Monday, Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday, Tuesday at the Table, Totally Tasty Tuesdays, A Little Birdie Told Me, Tasty Tuesday (#2), Tasty Tuesday (#3).

Caramel Bars

1 yellow cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
2 Tbsp. milk
1 cup milk chocolate chips
32 caramels (1 - 8 oz. package)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup butter

In a heavy saucepan, combine the butter, sweetened condensed milk and caramels over medium low heat. Stir until the caramels are melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and let cool.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cake mix with the eggs and oil. Stir in the chocolate chips. Press three fourths of the mixture into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes.

Spread caramel sauce over crust. Top with spoonfuls of remaining cake mixture. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 15 minutes, cut into small squares and then refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Refrigerate leftovers. Makes 30 bars.