Chocolate Cake Mix Cranberry Bars

Ingredients

• 1 (14 ounce) package vanilla caramels, unwrapped
• 2/3 cup half-and-half cream, divided
• 1 (18 1/4 ounce) box German chocolate cake mix
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 (16 ounce) can whole berry cranberry sauce
• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F & grease a 13“x9” baking pan.
2. In a heavy saucepan, heat caramels & 1/3 cup of the half & half, over low heat, stirring occasionally, until caramels are melted. Then, stir until smooth & remove from heat & set aside.
3. In a mixing bowl, beat cake mix, remaining 1/3 cup half & half, butter & vanilla until smooth. Pat half of this mixture into bottom of prepared baking pan & bake 10 minutes.
4. Remove from oven & spread evenly with warm caramel mixture.
5. In another bowl, stir cranberry sauce, then spoon over caramel layer.
6. Sprinkle remaining cake mixture over cranberry layer, then top with a sprinkling of pecans.
7. Return to oven & bake another 30 minutes.
8. Cool in pan on wire rack before cutting into bars.