These mixed nut bars are like little candy bars, crunchy and just sweet enough. Caramel chips aren't made of actual caramel, but act like chocolate chips in baked goods.
1cupcaramel chips plus extra 1/2 cup for top, optional
2Tablespoonsunsalted butter
1/2cuplight corn syrup
1/2teaspoonvanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line a 13x9 pan with aluminum foil and apply nonstick spray.
In a small bowl, stir together flour, sugar, and salt. Cut in the cube of butter until it resembles coarse crumbs. Dump into prepared pan and compress into an even layer; a strip of waxed paper and a heavy glass make this easier.
Bake base layer for 10 to 12 minutes, until it looks set. Sprinkle nuts over the baked dough.
In the microwave, melt 1 cup caramel chips with the 2 Tablespoons butter by cooking for 20 second increments and stirring well between each pass, until smooth. Stir in corn syrup and vanilla extract. Pour over the nuts to cover as much as possible.
Bake for 12 minutes. If adding extra caramel chips, do so now, covering any thinner areas atop crust. Bake another 5 minutes.
Cool completely at room temperature. Use foil sling to lift contents onto a large cutting board. Slice into bars.