Tastes Like Vintage: Norma’s Caramel bars 3

This week’s Tastes Like Vintage guest blogger is Michelle from RosyBluVintage. 

Norma’s Caramel Bars,  photo by Marni Mattner Photography

This recipe is a family favorite on my husband’s side. The very first time we visited his grandparents together, his grandma Norma pulled a plate of these caramel bars out and asked if anyone was hungry. I would later learn 2 things: these bars are always available at her house (she kept them in the freezer for company, without fail…and usually some lemon poppyseed bread, too); and you would never, ever leave her house hungry. Ever.

Norma’s original recipe is on a brittle and faded old newspaper clipping. The original recipe is below, with a few embellishments in the instructions that I learned from Norma when she showed me how to make the bars.

Norma’s Caramel Bars

Melt in a double boiler…

• 6T milk
• 64 light caramels (1 pound)

Mix…
1-1/3 cup flour
1-1/2 cup quick oatmeal
1 cup brown sugar
¾ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup oleo/shortening

Put 2/3 of this mixture in a 9×13 pan. Bake 10 minutes at 350°F. Remove and cover with 1 cup of nuts (optional) and 1 cup of chocolate chips, then pour the caramel mixture over the top. Add the rest of the crumb mixture (When Norma showed me how to do this, she pressed the crumbs together into thin patties, then distributed them evenly over the caramel, rather than just sprinkling the crumbs). Bake another 20 minutes. Chill and serve.

Vintage enamel baking pan from vintagebylynnanne

Pyrex nested bowls by OldGreenCanoe