Cranberry-date Caramel Bars

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• 2 1/3 cups flour, divided
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup butter, melted (i use unsalted so i added 1/4 t. salt to the recipe when making the crumb mixture)
• 1 (6 ounce) package dried cranberries
• 1 cup chopped dates
• 1 cup toasted chopped pecans
• 1 cup caramel ice cream topping

Recipe

• 1 grease, or spray bottom of 13x9-inch pan.
• 2 preheat oven to 350°f.
• 3 in medium bowl, combine 2 cups flour, rolled oats, sugars,soda (and salt, if using).
• 4 stir in melted butter to form crumbs.
• 5 reserve 1 cup for topping.
• 6 press remainder into bottom of prepared pan.
• 7 bake at 350°f for 15 minutes.
• 8 sprinkle evenly with dried cranberries, dates, and pecans.
• 9 stir together caramel topping and 1/3 cup flour; drizzle over fruits and nuts.
• 10 sprinkle with reserved crumbs.
• 11 bake an additional 18-20 minutes.
• 12 cool in pan on rack.
• 13 cut into 24 bars.