returning print xtable from a function includes escaped characters knitr r

I'm trying to build tables in knitr using xtable.
Some tables have multilevel column names
I'm building the tables in functions and storing the output of the functions as variables
these table variables are then used to build a knitr report

Code for the Rmd below

---
output:
  pdf_document
---
```{r setup}
library(knitr)
library(xtable)
library(tidyverse)

data <- diamonds %>% head(3) %>% select(carat, cut, color, depth)

make_table <- function(){
  addtorow_comp <- list()
  addtorow_comp$pos <- list(0,0)
  addtorow_comp$command <- c("\\multicolumn{3}{c}{all the Cs} & D \\\\\n",
                               "carat & cut & color & depth \\\\\n")
    
    tmp <- xtable(data,
                  caption="a table",
                  align = c('l|','c{0.3in}', 'c{0.4in}','c{0.4in}|', 'c{0.4in}|'),
                  digits= c(0,0,0,0,1))
    
  return(print(tmp, add.to.row = addtorow_comp, 
                         include.colnames = FALSE, 
                         rotate.colnames = FALSE, 
                         include.rownames = FALSE,
                         type="latex"))
}
tbl_to_output <- make_table()
```

```{r output_table, results="asis", cache=FALSE}
tbl_to_output

```

tbl_to_output outputs the latex with the text including escape characters, e.g. \\ for a single slash and \n for newline. If I were to run the print command directly from the the output_table chunk it works fine, but I want to separate the building of tables from where they display.

desired output:

Output when returned from the function:

Solution

I add some corrections and comments, now it works:

---
output:
  pdf_document
---

```{r setup, results='asis', echo=FALSE, include=FALSE}
library(knitr)
library(xtable)
library(tidyverse)

data <- diamonds %>% head(3) %>% select(carat, cut, color, depth)

make_table <- function(){
  addtorow_comp <- list()
  addtorow_comp$pos <- list(0,0)
  addtorow_comp$command <- c("\\multicolumn{3}{c}{all the Cs} & D \\\\\n",
                               "carat & cut & color & depth \\\\\n")
    
    tmp <- xtable(data,
                  caption="a table",
                  align = c('l|','c@{0.3in}', 'c@{0.4in}','c@{0.4in}|', 'c@{0.4in}|'), #don't forget about @
                  digits= c(0,0,0,0,1))
    
  return(print(tmp, add.to.row = addtorow_comp, 
                         include.colnames = FALSE, 
                         rotate.colnames = FALSE, 
                         include.rownames = FALSE,
                         type="latex", 
                         table.placement="H", 
                         comment=FALSE)) #hold pos and no comments
}

#tbl_to_output <- make_table()
```


```{r xtable, results='asis', echo=FALSE, message=FALSE}
tbl_to_output <- make_table()
```

An addition:

You can do it also by this way:

\begin{figure}
`r tbl_to_output`
\end{figure}