Best Cookie Recipes

Sometimes the Best Cookie Recipes are really easy, like these amazing oatmeal and chocolate bar cookies. These sweet things are covered in caramel topping and finished in an oat and butter crust.

Sometimes called Dream Bars, this recipe has all the good stuff that dreams are made of, and then some.

Once you get the handle on making these bar cookies, you can start substituting other toppings for the caramel sauce. Try strawberry jam, leftover apple pie filling, or any other fruit filling that is slightly thickened. Or try adding toasted pecans to the caramel sauce for a little extra crunch.

The possibilities are endless.

Dream Bars From Best Cookie Recipes

2 cups all purpose flour, plus 6 tablespoons, reserved
2 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, melted
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 jar (12 ounces) caramel ice cream topping

Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a square 9 x 13 baking pan with vegetable shortening or cooking spray. Line the inside rims of the pan with strips of aluminum foil, so that the dough and topping do not stick to the sides and burn during baking.

Whisk together the 2 cups of all purpose flour with the rolled oats, light brown sugar, salt and baking soda. Stir in the melted butter, making sure all the ingredients are moistened. Press half of this mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes, until the dough is lightly browned. Take the pan from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the surface. Let it stand while you make the topping.

In a small bowl, mix the caramel topping with the reserved 6 tablespoons of flour. Drizzle this mixture over the chocolate chips and dough, then sprinkle with the remaining crust mixture. Put the pan back in the hot oven and bake for another 25 minutes. Allow the pan to cool completely before removing the aluminum foil strips.

Cut the baked cookie into squares or long bars. Wrap them individually in plastic, or wrap the pan of cookie bars in plastic for a day or two.

Food For Thought - Check the ice cream department at your market for other flavored ice cream toppings. For a chocolate over-load, try a fudge topping with chopped walnuts.

You Might Need:

• Kitchen Supply Aluminum Half Size Sheet Pan 18-inch by 13-inch

• Calphalon 12-by-17-Inch Rectangular Nonstick Cooling Rack

• Silpat 11-5/8-by-16-1/2-Inch Nonstick Silicone Baking Mat

• Oxo Good Grips Cookie Scoop