1 ¾ cups quick OR old-fashioned oats
1 ¾ cups flour, divided
¾ cup packed brown sugar
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt (optional)
¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) butter OR margarine, melted
1 cup chopped nuts
2 cups (12 oz pkg) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup caramel ice cream topping

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Combine oats, 1 ½ cups flour, brown sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl; stir to break up brown sugar.

Stir in butter, mixing until well blended.

Reserve 1 cup oat mixture; press remaining oat mixture onto the bottom of a greased 13”x9” baking pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until light brown; cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

Sprinkle with nuts and chocolate chips.

Mix caramel topping with remaining flour in a small bowl; drizzle over chocolate chips to within 1/4” of pan edges.

Sprinkle with reserved oat mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool in the pan on a wire rack; chill until firm.

Cut into bars.