Salted Caramel Sweet Squares

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup flour
• cooking spray
• 2 14-ounce bags caramel pieces
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla (for caramel)
• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
• 2/3 cup pretzels, crushed
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup evaporated milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 cups marshmallows
• 1 teaspoon vanilla (for fudge)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray an 8 x 8 pan with cooking spray.
2. Beat brown sugar, butter, vanilla and salt with a mixer at medium speed until blended. Add flour.
3. Press into pan and bake 10-15 minutes.
4. For the caramel, combine milk and caramels in a saucepan. Cook on low until melted. Add vanilla and remove from heat.
5. Pour over the baked, warm crust (reserve some for topping). Sprinkle with the pretzel/pecan mix. Bake 10-15 minutes; let cool.
6. For the fudge, start making after the crust and caramel are cool. Combine sugar, evaporated milk and butter. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes.
7. Remove from heat and add marshmallows and chocolate chips; stir until melted. Add vanilla and stir.
8. Pour over the cooled crust/caramel.
9. Warm the reserved caramel mix in the microwave. Add a pinch of salt and drizzle over the fudge layer. Take a knife and gently run through the caramel layer to swirl. Chill, set and cut into squares.