Pumpkin Caramel Crumb Bars

It just wouldn't be autumn without these bars. The gooey caramel filling is highlighted with pumpkin, maple and toasted nuts.

Ingredients:

• Crumb mixture:
• 1 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Pumpkin Caramel Filling:
• 1 9 1/4 ounce bag vanilla caramels, unwrapped
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/3 cup pumpkin puree, not pie filling
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice
• 1 teaspoon maple extract, optional
• 2/3 cup toasted walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped
• 2 ounces white chocolate, melted
• 2 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9 X 13 baking pan. Crumb Mixture:In a mixing bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, butter, baking soda and salt. Beat at low speed until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pat 2/3 of mixture into a prepared pan and bake 10 minutes. Pumpkin Caramel Filling: Melt caramels with cream over medium low heat stirring frequently. Stir in pumpkin puree, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice and maple extract, if desired, until smooth and blended.  Add nuts and pour caramel mixture over baked crust. Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over top. Bake 18 minutes or until golden brown. Cool then drizzle with melted chocolates and let set.  Cut into bars.

Number of Servings: 18-32