Gooey Turtle Bars

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 3/4 cups packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (for topping)
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup pecan halves, toasted
• 6 ounces milk chocolate or semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom and sides of a 13 x 9 inch pan with foil.
2. Combine flour, sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Stir in melted butter until a soft dough forms. Press dough over the bottom of the pan.
3. Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
4. Combine brown sugar, honey, 1/4 cup water and a scant 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large, wide saucepan. Add 1/4 cup butter; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a silicone spatula and scraping the corners and bottom of the pan as the butter melts. Boil about 3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved.
5. Stir in sweetened condensed milk; return to a boil, stirring constantly and scraping the sides. Continue stirring and cooking 9-12 minutes or until the mixture reaches 235 degrees.
6. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour over the crust and tilt the pan to level the caramel. Sprinkle with pecans and chocolate; let stand until the caramel is cool and the chocolate is set.
7. Lift the foil to remove the bars from the pan and cut into bars. About 235 calories per bar.