Caramel Crumb Bars

• 2 c flour
• 1 ¼ c oatmeal
• ¾ c brown sugar, packed
• 2 sticks butter, room temperature
• 12 ozs cream cheese,  room temperature
• ½ c sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 t lemon juice
• 2 t vanilla extract
• 1 c chocolate chips
• 1 c caramel pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease a 13”×9“ baking dish and set aside.

In a large bowl place the flour, oatmeal, and brown sugar and mix together.   Add butter and mix until incorporated.  Take 1½ c of the mixture and set aside.

Pour the remaining mixture into the prepared baking dish, press evenly into the bottom and bake for fifteen minutes.

In a large bowl, place the cream cheese and sugar and mix together.  Add eggs, one at a time.  Add the lemon juice and vanilla extract until incorporated.

To the baked crust, pour the cream cheese mixture on top of the crust. Sprinkle chocolate chips and caramel pieces over the cream cheese mixture.  Sprinkle the remaining oatmeal mixture on top and ake for half an hour and the bars are slightly golden brown.

Cool  on a baking rack. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for four hours to allow the bars to set.

After they are firm, cut into bars and serve.