Caramel Layer Cocoa Squares

I found this recipe at Stephanie's 'barefoot in the kitchen' blog.

They are SO good.

When I bring something to a party, I want to bring a sure thing, don't you?  Something you know everyone will love, something you know won't be wasted and something easy to transport and not have to keep warm.

I needed to bring an appetizer (brought my feta dip...gone in 10 minutes, didn't get a bite!) and a dessert...gone too, but I saved a whole row at home for me...which I ate for breakfast and lunch the next day just to be extra healthy.

Caramel Layer Cocoa Squares

1 14oz package of individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped

2/3 cup evaporated mik, divided

1 18oz package chocolate cake mix

3/4 cup butter, melted

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.

In a heavy saucepan, combine caramels and 1/3 cup of evaporated milk.

Cook over low heat, stirring contantly, until smooth; set aside.

Grease a 9x13 inch pan.

In a large bowl, stir together cake mix, butter and a little less than 1/3 cup evaporated milk by hand until dough forms.

Press half of the dough into the prepared pan, reserving the rest.

Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven.

Remove from the oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the crust, pour the caramel mixture evenly over the chips.

Crumble the remaining dough (it's ok if it's clumpy!) over the caramel layer and return to oven.

Bake for an additional 15 to 18 minutes in the preheated oven.

Cool in refrigerator to set the caramel before cutting into bars.

(I cut them into tiny fudge like squares so they go a long way.)