Description
Deliciously chewy and gooey Carmelitas featuring a buttery oat-based crust layered with melted caramel and semi-sweet chocolate chips. This easy-to-make dessert blends a crisp oat crust with a luscious caramel-chocolate filling, baked to perfection in under an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Base and Crust
- 3/4 cup melted butter
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole-rolled old-fashioned oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Caramel Layer
- 35 caramel squares
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Topping
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, then spray it with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Melt Butter and Mix Wet Ingredients: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter for about 90 seconds. Stir in the light brown sugar and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: To the wet mixture, add the all-purpose flour, whole-rolled oats, baking soda, and salt. Stir everything together until thoroughly combined into a uniform batter.
- Form Base Layer and Bake: Spoon half of the oat mixture into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly. Bake this base layer for 10 minutes in the preheated oven to set it slightly.
- Melt Caramel Filling: While the base bakes, combine the caramel squares and heavy cream in another microwave-safe bowl. Heat the mixture until the caramel is fully melted and smooth, stirring as needed.
- Add Chocolate and Caramel Layers: After removing the pan from the oven, immediately sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly over the baked base layer. Then pour the warm, melted caramel evenly over the chocolate chips.
- Add Crumbled Top Layer and Final Bake: Crumble the remaining half of the oat mixture over the caramel layer, distributing it evenly to cover. Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 15-18 minutes until the top is golden and set.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the Carmelitas from the oven and cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, lift the foil to remove from the pan and slice into 12 squares for serving.
Notes
- For easier removal, let the Carmelitas cool completely before slicing.
- You can substitute caramel squares with caramel sauce if preferred; adjust the cream quantity for consistency.
- Using light brown sugar adds a nice molasses flavor, but dark brown sugar can be used for a richer taste.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- If you prefer a nuttier texture, consider adding chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to the oat mixture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 33 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Carmelitas, caramel dessert, oat bars, chocolate caramel bars, easy baked dessert, gooey caramel bars