Caramel Cookie Bars

I love these for Christmas cookies.  I got this recipe from Lea Sukut, the first landlord I had.  I lived in her semi basement apartment when I got my first job in Bismarck.  I spent a lot of time visiting her in her kitchen and getting new recipes.

Caramel Cookie Bars

Cookie Part

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp evaporated milk
2 cups flour

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cream butter;  add sugar gradually.  Blend in vanilla, salt, milk and flour.

Roll dough 1/8 inch thick on a floured surface.  Cut into 1x2 inch bars.

Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly browned.

Caramel topping

Ingredients

28 light caramels
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup butter
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1 cup pecans, finely chopped or use whole pecans on top of cookie

Directions

Melt caramels with milk and butter in a saucepan on low heat.  Watch carefully.

Put powdered sugar in small bowl and add a little of the melted caramel.  Mix and continue slowly adding the melted caramel.  Add the pecans if using chopped ones.

Spread 1/2 tsp of mixture on each bar.  Can keep caramel over hot water to keep it at a spreading consistency.

Decorate with thin lines of chocolate icing, or chocolate icing and a whole pecan on top.

Chocolate Icing

Ingredients

1/2 chocolate chips
3 T. evaporated milk
1 Tbsp butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup powdered sugar

Directions

Melt chocolate chips in milk and butter over low heat.  Add powdered sugar and vanilla.  Beat until smooth.