Part oatmeal cookie, part chocolate chip cookie, part pecan bar, these Heartland Pecan Bars are now one of my favorite Baked Sunday Mornings recipes. Once again, I hadn't read the intro, or the recipe, and assumed these were something different and almost passed on them. I am so glad I didn't.
My stepsisters Kathy and Pam are amazing cooks. Everything they make is delicious and they seem immune to kitchen disasters or failures. At Christmas we all look forward to Kathy's Turtle Cake. Layers of rich chocolate cake sandwich a sheet of caramel, pecans, and chocolate chips making it absolutely irresistible. I don't know why, but I just figured pecan bars would be a variation on my Christmas favorite and without Kathy's experience and love thrown into the mix, they just wouldn't live up to my expectations.
Imagine my surprise when I found this recipe didn't involve cake at all, but layers of oatmeal cookie. These are a breeze to make. An oatmeal layer, best described as a cookie, is baked for a few minutes and then layered with pecans, chocolate chips, and homemade caramel. Dollops of the remaining cookie dough are generously scattered across the top and then baked. I think I was probably supposed to let the caramel thicken up some and then wait until the bottom layer cooled a bit before pouring it on, but my impatience prevented that from happening.
Didn't matter though as these were amazing. Amazing. You won't be able to stop yourself from trying a bar while they are still warm and gooey from the oven. And it will be delicious. But chilled so that the chocolate chips set back up and you fully experience the various textures are how these treats are meant to be enjoyed. I hope these will become a favorite of yours too!
Go get the recipe here!
that turtle cake sounds amazing! i liked these bars too - soooo sweet and buttery!
ReplyDeleteWow, I wonder if you could ask your sister to share her recipe - that sounds amazing. We really enjoyed these, too. I was thinking of trying them with milk chocolate chips next time.
ReplyDeleteHave you ordered "Baked Elements" yet?
seriously, i want that recipe too! sounds amazing! I have to put the bars in the fridge and try them chilled. yours looks great! i was also surprised to see how thin the caramel was. loved the bars anyway :)
ReplyDeleteYour bars are picture perfect. Is the turtle cake you're talking about the Praline Turtle Cake that's posted on your blog?
ReplyDeleteMy bars went camping. A perfect afternoon snack. And dessert. And I think maybe a couple of them got eaten for breakfast.
You bars look great! And I agree with the rest! That cake sounds like it needs to be shared! :)
ReplyDeleteOhmigosh, that turtle cake does sound amazing! Gorgeous bars with such a beautiful color and clean cuts -- perfect!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed them chilled rather than room temperature too :)
ReplyDeleteThese look and sound incredible! I love anything with oats and caramel.
ReplyDeleteJust in time for company...My mother-in-law is coming this weekend and wow, does she have a sweet tooth. Plus, I won't be getting fat all by myself...A complete win-win!
ReplyDeleteThis picture literally made me salivate. I'm like a dog when it comes to chocolate! (I can't believe I just wrote that) Anyway...looks delish!!
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