Ok. So, let me tell you about these bars.
Y’all know by now I don’t care much about sweets, but my M.O. is to blog one or two every few months.
Just for shits and giggles.
Or giggles and shits.
Whichever you prefer. I’m here for you.
When I was younger I loved sweets, especially chocolate. I had an affinity for cheesecake and key lime pie. As a matter of fact, my husband gave me a key lime pie a few weeks ago on my birthday (yes, I turned 21 again) even though he knew I probably wouldn’t eat it – but he brought it home because he knew it was my favorite.
Anyway, truth is, every now and then I like a *bite* of something sweet. Like a miniature Crackle Bar, or a Hershey Kiss. Or two, maybe. Ok, fine, more depending on the time of the month but typically that’s not the case.
Then I’m done and I’m ready for something hot.
And cheesy.
And salty.
These, although I will be making an adjustment to the crust, are so blog worthy.
I have no patience, so I had to go ahead and share them with you.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 stick cold butter, dice
- 1 block cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 3/4 cup jarred caramel
- 3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp Crisco shortening
- Pink Himalayan Sea Salt - Regular coarse sea salt would work just fine as well
Instructions
- Spray a small rectangular dish (7x5x1.5) with cooking spray
- In a food processor blend together the oats, pecans and sugar until very crumby. Add butter and pulse until it forms a ball.
- Add crumb mixture to prepared dish and press to form a crust. Refrigerate for an hour.
- Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350. Add cream cheese through sugar to your food processor bowl; pulse until smooth.
- Remove crust from fridge and pour filling on top. Bake for 40 minutes, or until slightly golden brown and starting to crack at the edges. Remove and cool for at least an hour.
- Microwave the caramel for 30 seconds at a time on 75% heat, stirring in between, until warm.
- Pour the caramel over the cheesecake, let sit for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile in a glass bowl, microwave the chocolate chips and Crisco just like you did the caramel, until melted. Pour chocolate over the caramel layer and sprinkle with sea salt.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight.
I LOVE what the salt adds to the taste and texture of these. The salt I used is very coarse and crunchy.
And pink. How cute is that?
xoxo
14 Comments
Mindy
August 24, 2013 at 7:35 PMSo, I just want to start with OMG!!! Yummmm!! I’m just wondering where the egg goes? I just made these & I’m guessing the egg goes in with the sugar & cream cheese mixture, so that’s what I did, they are in the oven now:-) There just aren’t any instructions as to what to do with the egg.
These look fabulous & I cannot wait to put them in my mouth!! Thanks so much for the recipe!
Mindy
August 24, 2013 at 8:26 PMAnd the vanilla!! What do we do with the vanilla?
Dixie Chik
August 27, 2013 at 8:00 PMSorry Mindy! I’ll change that instruction – vanilla goes in with the sugar/cream cheese mixture. Thanks for bringing that to my attention!!
Seana Turner
August 16, 2013 at 9:52 AMI. Am. Drooling. Good thing bathing suit season is almost over — I’m all about this recipe! Stopping in from LOBS. Thanks for sharing!
Seana Turner
August 16, 2013 at 9:52 AMI. Am. Drooling. Good thing bathing suit season is almost over — I’m all about this recipe!
Amy | Club Narwhal
August 14, 2013 at 8:36 AMThese look absolutely GORGEOUS! I love the salty/sweet combination and the fact that you wrap it all up in a delicious bar is just awesome. Stopping by from Whimsy Wednesdays 🙂
Jordan
August 14, 2013 at 7:59 AMOMG!!! These look insanely awesome!!! YES! Thanks for the link up on the Frugal, Crafty, Home blog hop! We appreciate your participation and inspiration!
xoxo, Jordan
http://www.lilywhite-designs.com/2013/08/frugal-crafty-home-36.html
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August 13, 2013 at 8:43 PMOh wow, that looks like a salty/sweet slice of heaven!
Rhonda @wine-y wife
August 12, 2013 at 10:41 AMI love Himalayan sea salt! I pull it out whenever possible. And salted caramel…you can’t go wrong with that! These look delicious!
Amanda @ Serenity Now
August 11, 2013 at 11:45 AMWould love to feature your recipe, but I don’t see a link back to my party within your post. They look delicious!
Evelyn @ My Turn for us
August 11, 2013 at 8:14 AMI will make the coffee if you will bring over this cheesecake!! YUM-O! Seriously just pinned it, gotta have it!! Love the salt!
Hugs
Hope to see you at Let’s Get Social Sunday
Nat - Home Sweet Kitchen And Garden
August 11, 2013 at 1:56 AMI love salted caramel! What a great idea to combine it in a cheesecake! Oh and re key lime pie, I have always wanted to try it but here in Australia it’s hard to come by, until I went to an American restaurant and they had it on the menu, the only problem was I when it came out it was this horrible slime/gak colour and was quite bitter, is the bitterness normal (so I know weather to give it another chance if I ever see it on a menu again?)
Gloria // Simply Gloria
August 10, 2013 at 10:46 PMCommence drooling….
These are amazing! I love the pink salt, of course! Pinning!
Debbie McEwen
August 9, 2013 at 8:38 PMWow! This looks deee-licious! We’d love to have you share the recipe at our Saturday Link Party! Deb @ madefrompinterest.net