Cappuccino Caramel Oat Bars

Bars:
3 cups Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans, divided
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon instant coffee powder or instant espresso coffee
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup spoonable caramel ice cream topping

Glaze:
2 tablespoons very hot milk
1 teaspoon instant coffee powder or instant espresso coffee
1 cup powdered sugar

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease 15 x 10-inch jellyroll pan.

2. In large bowl, combine oats, flour, 1 cup pecans, baking soda and salt; mix well. Set aside. In large bowl, beat sugar and butter with electric mixer until creamy. In small bowl, whisk eggs with coffee powder and vanilla extract until well blended. Add to butter mixture; continue beating until light and fluffy. Stir in oat mixture; mix well. (Dough will be very thick.) Reserve 2 cups for topping; set aside. Using lightly floured hands, press remaining oat mixture evenly onto bottom of pan. Spread caramel topping evenly over crust to within 1/4 inch from edges. Drop spoonfuls of reserved dough over caramel topping; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup pecans.

3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until center feels firm when lightly touched. (Do not overbake.) Cool completely in pan on wire rack.

4. For glaze, combine milk and coffee powder in small bowl; stir until coffee powder dissolves. Add powdered sugar; stir until smooth. Drizzle over cookies in pan. Let stand 15 minutes to set glaze. Cut into bars or other shapes. Store tightly covered.

Makes 48 cookies

Notes and cook tips:
Instant coffee granules or freeze-dried coffee are not recommended for this recipe.

Fat-free caramel ice cream topping is not recommended for this recipe.

If ice cream topping is very thick, microwave on HIGH 10 to 20 seconds or until spreadable.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of Quaker Oats - used with permission