Chocolate Chip Turtle Bars

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup Golden Crisco Shortening (175 mL)
• 1 1/4 cups brown sugar, firmly packed (300 mL)
• 2 tablespoons milk (30 mL)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla (15 mL)
• 1 egg
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (425 mL)
• 1 teaspoon salt (5 mL)
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda (3 mL)
• 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet Hershey's Chipits- small chocolate chips (375 mL)

• 1 (14 ounce) bag caramels, unwrapped (420 g)
• 1 tablespoon water (15 mL)

Directions

1. 1

   Heat oven to 350 F (180 C). Grease a 9 x 13-inch (23 x 33 cm) pan with shortening.

2. 2

   Place cooling rack on countertop.

3. 3

   Combine shortening, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in large bowl.

4. 4

   Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended.

5. 5

   Beat egg into creamed mixture. Combine flour, salt and baking soda.

6. 6

   Mix into creamed mixture just until blended.

7. 7

   Stir in Hershey's Chipets- small chocolate chips.

8. 8

   Divide dough into thirds.

9. 9

   Pat 2/3 of dough into the bottom of the prepared pan.

10. 10

    Combine caramels and water in small saucepan.

11. 11

    Place on very low heat. Stir constantly until caramels melt. Spread caramel mixture over dough in pan to within 1/2 inch (1 cm) of edge. Divide remaining dough into measuri ng teaspoonfuls (5 mL) and drop evenly over the caramel layer.

12. 12

    Bake at 350 F (180 C) for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.

13. 13

    DO NOT OVERBAKE.

14. 14

    Loosen from sides of pan with knife. Cool completely on rack.

15. 15

    Cut into bars.