Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars

I've been baking a lot of desserts lately, and these bars still reign up there as one of the best things I make. Consider yourselves lucky to get this recipe; its easy and delicious, which makes it super special :)

These cookie bars are LOADED with goodness. Caramel, coconut, chocolate chips, nuts......mmmmmmmm!  They are rich and gooey, and a little bit goes a long way, but since they have nuts they are semi-healthy ;) Customizing options are limitless, I like to vary the types of chocolate chips I add, frequently using peanut butter chips or toffee bits. Cover these well and they will stay fresh for about a week.

Makes 24 squares

Ingredients
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-3 cups raw cookie dough (make your own or use store bought refrigerated)
-1 1/2 cups quick-cook oats
-dash of salt
-5 tablespoons flour
-2/3 cup caramel sauce
-1 teaspoon vanilla
-3/4 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans
-1 1/2 cups TOTAL chocolate chips (I use a variety of milk chocolate, white chocolate and peanut butter chips)
-1 cup shredded coconut

To make:
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-Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, break up cookie dough. Add oats and salt, mixing until well blended. Reserve 1/2 cup of the mixture and press the rest into a 9x13 inch baking pan. Bake 10-12 minutes, until dough puffs up and appears dry.
-In a small bowl, combine flour, caramel sauce and vanilla. Stir until mixture is combined.
-Remove pan from oven and sprinkle walnuts, chocolate chips and shredded coconut.
-Drizzle caramel mixture evenly over the toppings, then crumble reserved cookie dough.
-Bake an additional 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
-Remove from oven and cool completely.
-Cut into squares and enjoy :)

*Note: This will take its shape after cooling completely, otherwise it will appear to be too soft. Don't over bake otherwise it will harden.

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