Dutch Oven Caramel Chocolate Crumb Bars

We've been experimenting with some Dutch oven recipes to get my husband ready to go to Scout Camp for a week. Some of our experiments have flopped and some have become new favorites! These Dutch oven caramel chocolate crumb bars are one of those new favorites. The scouts have already requested them for their next (and every other) campout! My kids love them too.

We've learned a lot with just the few recipes we've tried. Our confidence is growing and we have a list of other recipes to try before the camping season is over. I will be sure to share the ones that become favorites.

First, mix the 5 ingredients together and pour them into a 12 inch Dutch oven lined with parchment paper.

Bake - paying close attention to rotate your lid and oven every 15 minutes or so to allow them to bake evenly.

Allow to cool completely and then cut into bars. The waiting is torture! Store any leftovers in an airtight container.

When taking this recipe to the campground, be sure to crush your graham cracker crumbs before going. It will make mixing these together a breeze! To get 4 cups of crumbs, you will need to start with 24 full size graham crackers. Place 8 or so in a quart size freezer ziplock bag and crush with a rolling pin. Repeat, using the same bag until all grahams are crushed.

We have learned to bake these at night and then allow them to cool while we are sleeping. It makes not being able to eat them a little easier to bear. Cut them in the morning and then enjoy them for breakfast if you really can't wait or pack them along with your picnic to go fishing, hiking, swimming or whatever adventure you have planned.

Cookie bars in the Dutch oven were a new adventure for us. We have always relied on cobblers to be our dessert at the campground. We now have a new favorite and a few other bar cookies I want to try. Hopefully, your family will enjoy them as much as we do.

Dutch Oven Caramel Chocolate Crumb Bars

4 cups graham cracker or vanilla wafer crumbs
2 (14 oz.) cans sweetened condensed milk
2 cups semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract (Omit if using vanilla wafer crumbs.)

Lightly oil or spray a 12 inch Dutch oven and line it with parchment paper. Combine graham cracker or vanilla wafer crumbs, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, butter and vanilla in a large bowl.  Mix until blended. Spread evenly in your prepared Dutch oven. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes. (Use 8 coals on the bottom and 16 on the top to achieve a 350° oven.) Rotate the lid about ¼ turn clockwise and the oven about ¼ turn counter-clockwise about every 10 minutes to provide a little more even cooking. Cool in the Dutch oven for 15 minutes before lifting out using the parchment paper. Cool completely before cutting into bars.  

You can also bake these in a 9x13 pan in the oven if you are not ready to venture into Dutch oven cooking today. Just grease your pan well and then spread the batter out evenly. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely before cutting into bars.