Turtle Bars

This bake-sale classic features a sandy, soft crust, a layer of caramel and pecans, and a final chocolate topping. These small bars go a long way: Usually, the caramel layer is thin and tends to melt into the crust, but this version doubles the caramel for a rich, buttery confection. Perfect for the lazy baker, the caramel cooks in the oven, making a candy thermometer unnecessary. The pecans toast while they simmer in the bubbling caramel, resulting in deep toasty flavors without much work at all.