Buttery oat crust layered with gooey caramel and chocolate chips make the perfect oatmeal bar!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a two inch overhang on each short side. Put caramels and cream in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until caramels are melted (about 5 minutes). Let cool. In a large bowl, stir together oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt. Blend in butter with a fork or your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Press half of the mixture onto bottom of parchment-lined pan. Bake until just set and starting to color around edges, about 20 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 5 minutes. Sprinkle crust with chocolate chips, then drizzle with the caramel mixture. Top with the remaining crumb mixture. Bake until pale golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely in pan before cutting into squares.