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Oatmeal Caramelitas Recipe

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★★★★

3.8 from 283 reviews

Oatmeal Carmelitas are a delicious bar cookie featuring a buttery oat base topped with rich melted caramel and semi-sweet chocolate chips. These bars combine chewy oats, sweet caramel, and melty chocolate for an indulgent treat perfect for dessert or snacking.

Ingredients

Scale

Caramel Layer

  • 1 package (11 ounces) caramels or caramel bits (such as Kraft caramels)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Oat Layer

  • 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

Topping

  • 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish with non-stick spray or line it with foil for easy removal. Set the prepared pan aside.
  2. Melt Caramel: Place the unwrapped caramels or caramel bits in a medium saucepan. Add the heavy cream and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until the caramel melts completely and forms a smooth sauce. Remove from heat to prevent burning.
  3. Make Oat Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, old-fashioned oats, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt. Whisk these dry ingredients to blend well. Pour the melted butter over the mixture and stir thoroughly until everything is combined.
  4. First Bake of Oat Layer: Press half of the oat mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes to form a sturdy crust. Remove from the oven but keep the oven temperature on.
  5. Layer Toppings: Remove the baked oat crust from the oven. Sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly over the warm crust. Pour the melted caramel sauce over the chocolate chips, distributing it evenly. Finally, sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the caramel layer; it does not need to cover completely.
  6. Final Bake: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 18 minutes, or until the top layer is lightly golden brown. This baking step melds the flavors and sets the bars.
  7. Cool and Serve: Remove the baking dish from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, cut into approximately 18 bars and serve.

Notes

  • Using foil to line the pan helps remove bars more easily and makes cleanup simpler.
  • If caramel bits are not available, you can chop soft caramels into small pieces for more even melting.
  • The bars should cool completely before cutting to avoid oozing caramel.
  • Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
  • For a nutty twist, sprinkle chopped nuts over the caramel before adding the final oat topping.

Keywords: Oatmeal Carmelitas, caramel bars, chocolate caramel bars, oat bars, dessert bars, easy dessert, caramel recipes

Find it online: https://foodiecara.com/oatmeal-caramelitas-recipe/