Description
Oatmeal Carmelitas are a delicious layered bar dessert made with a buttery oat crust, gooey melted caramel, and rich semi-sweet chocolate chips. These bars combine chewy oats with sweet caramel and chocolate for an irresistible treat perfect for gatherings or an indulgent snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Caramel Layer
- 1 package (11 ounces) caramels or caramel bits (Kraft caramels recommended)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Oat Crust & Topping
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup salted butter, melted
Chocolate Layer
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish with non-stick spray or line it with foil for easy removal. Set aside.
- Melt Caramel: Place the unwrapped caramel bits and heavy cream in a medium saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until the caramel melts completely into a smooth sauce. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Prepare Oat Mixture: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt to combine. Pour in the melted butter and stir thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly mixed.
- Form Base Layer and Bake: Press half of the oat mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Bake it in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven but keep the oven on.
- Add Chocolate and Caramel Layers: Sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly over the partially baked oat crust. Pour the melted caramel sauce over the chocolate chips evenly to cover the surface.
- Add Topping and Bake: Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the caramel layer. It doesn’t need to cover the caramel completely. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 18 minutes, or until the topping is lightly golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and allow the Carmelitas to cool completely in the pan before cutting into 18 bars. This helps the layers set for clean slices.
Notes
- Use heavy cream and caramel bits for a smooth caramel sauce that hardens slightly upon cooling, giving the Carmelitas a chewy texture.
- Press the oat mixture firmly into the pan for a sturdy base layer that holds the toppings.
- Allow the bars to cool fully before cutting to prevent them from falling apart.
- You can line your pan with foil for easier removal of the bars.
- For variation, use dark chocolate chips or add chopped nuts for extra crunch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 32 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
