These crunchy, chewy, nutty, caramel-y, chocolate-y bars are a fun treat. They appeal to the sweet tooth in kids of all ages. The recipe calls for nuts, coconut, oats, chocolate chips, and m&ms. You can leave out any of those things, except the oats.
![](http://d1srdn5lm0231r.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/30080210/2016-06-09_2197_edited-21-1024x683.jpg)
![](http://d1srdn5lm0231r.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/30080210/2016-06-09_2197_edited-21-1024x683.jpg)
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 ounces)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- ½ cup butter
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- OR
- 1 ½ cups caramel ice cream topping mixed with ½ cup flour
- 1 ¾ cups quick oats
- 1 ½ cups flour
- ¾ cup brown sugar (packed)
- ½ cup coconut
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup butter (melted)
- 1 cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet)
- 1 cup mini m&ms
- 1 cup chopped nuts
- Melt butter in heavy 3 quart sauce pan.
- Add sugar, corn syrup, condensed milk, and salt.
- Stirring constantly, bring to a boil.
- Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla.
- Allow to cool to room temperature (this is important because it prevents the caramel from running to the edges of the pan.)
- OR just use
- 1 ½ cups caramel ice cream topping mixed with ½ cup flour
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, and grease 13 x 9 inch baking pan.
- Combine oats, flour, sugar, coconut, baking soda, and salt in large bowl. Stir in butter, and mix well.
- Reserve 1 cup of oat mixture, and press remaining mixture into bottom of prepared pan. Press dough up the sides of the pan about ¾ of an inch to form a crust.
- Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Yields 30 bars. (approx. 2 x 1.75 inches)
![In a 2 quart sauce-pan, over low heat, melt ½ cup butter Add 1 cup brown sugar 1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk ½ cup corn syrup ¼ teaspoon salt Stirring constantly, turn heat to medium high.](http://d1srdn5lm0231r.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/30075946/2016-01-18_9648_edited-21-1024x683.jpg)
In a 2 quart sauce-pan, over low heat, melt
½ cup butter
Add
1 cup brown sugar
1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk
½ cup corn syrup
¼ teaspoon salt
Stirring constantly, turn heat to medium high.
![Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla Set aside to cool for an hour. To speed up the process, set the pan in a sink of ice water. Make sure the water is at least an inch below the rim of the pan. Stir the caramel frequently to make sure it cools evenly](http://d1srdn5lm0231r.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/30080239/2016-06-08_1510_edited-31-1024x683.jpg)
Stir in
1 teaspoon vanilla
Set aside to cool for an hour. To speed up the process, set the pan in a sink of ice water. Make sure the water is at least an inch below the rim of the pan. Stir the caramel frequently to make sure it cools evenly
![Once it's cooled to luke-warm, it will become much thicker. At this point, you can make the cookie dough.](http://d1srdn5lm0231r.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/30080054/2016-06-08_1596_edited-21-1024x683.jpg)
Once it’s cooled to luke-warm, it will become much thicker. At this point, you can make the cookie dough.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
![In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine 1 ¾ cups quick oats 1 ½ cups flour ¾ cup brown sugar (packed) ½ cup coconut ½ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt Whisk together.](http://d1srdn5lm0231r.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/30080023/2016-06-08_1533_edited-1-copy_edited-21-1024x683.jpg)
In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine
1 ¾ cups quick oats
1 ½ cups flour
¾ cup brown sugar (packed)
½ cup coconut
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
Whisk together.
![Pour cooled caramel into the bottom of the "crust" layer. The sides of the crust will prevent the caramel from touching the edge of the pan and burning.](http://d1srdn5lm0231r.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/30080108/2016-06-08_1623_edited-22-1024x683.jpg)
Pour cooled caramel into the bottom of the “crust” layer. The sides of the crust will prevent the caramel from touching the edge of the pan and burning.
![Add a few extra m&ms to the top, if desired (purely for cosmetic reasons), and return to the oven for 20 minutes.](http://d1srdn5lm0231r.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/30080139/2016-06-08_1658_edited-22-1024x683.jpg)
Add a few extra m&ms to the top, if desired (purely for cosmetic reasons), and return to the oven for 20 minutes.