Carmelitas

Butter, brown sugar oat crust stuffed with chocolate and caramel! These easy Carmelitas are the best cookie bars ever. They are so easy to make and can be easily doubled for a crowd.

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Carmelitas are one of my favorite dessert recipes! They’re made with oats, chocolate, and caramel sauce that are layered and baked – when you take a bite, you get a taste of amazing gooey chocolate caramel filling. I love to make them for potlucks, BBQs, and parties because they always get rave reviews!

These are soft oatmeal bars that are like the best oatmeal cookie combined with chocolate and caramel. Every bite is rich and sweet – a little goes a long way!

My family loves these bars warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Yum!

What I love best is that they’re EASY to make. The oatmeal crust and topping is made with one bowl and the caramel sauce takes no time at all. The result is amazing – trust me, everyone will love these caramelitas when you make them.

Ingredients for Carmelitas

• Old-fashioned rolled oats – Quick oats will make these bars less chewy.
• All-purpose flour
• Light brown sugar – Remember to pack your brown sugar when measuring.
• Baking soda – Makes the bars rise.
• Salt – If you use salted butter cut back on the salt.
• Unsalted butter – Melt it completely to get the right texture for the bars.

• Chocolate chips – We prefer semi-sweet chocolate chips in this recipe to balance out the sweetness of the caramel.
• Semi-sweet chocolate – Chop it up!
• Soft caramels – We buy the square caramels and unwrap them.
• Heavy cream – Gives the caramel sauce a rich taste.

Can you use quick oats instead of old-fashioned oats?

You can use quick cooking oats but your bars won’t be as chewy.

Can you use other kinds of chocolate?

I recommend using chocolate chips and chopped chocolate for the best texture. The chopped chocolate melts really well while the chocolate chips will hold their shape adding texture. You can use semi-sweet, milk chocolate chips, or dark chocolate. Or, use a combo.

Mix the oats, flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Add the melted butter and stir to combine.

Press 2/3 of the oat mixture into the prepared pan. Use a spatula to press it down and then use your hands to press it into an even layer. Bake the crust for 10 minutes.

Unwrap the caramels and place them in a saucepan with the cream. Heat them over low heat while stirring until the mixture is smooth. Transfer a few tablespoons of the caramel mixture to a small bowl. Set it aside and set the saucepan with the rest of the caramel aside.

Sprinkle the chocolate chips and chopped chocolate over the warm oatmeal crust. Pour the caramel sauce from the pan over the top of the chocolate.

Press the rest of the oatmeal mixture on top of the caramel layer and bake the bars for 15 minutes or until the top is lightly golden.

Cool the bars in the pan for an hour before turning them out and slicing. Drizzle the rest of the caramel sauce over the top for serving.

Can you use a different size baking pan for this recipe?

You can use a 9” square baking pan but your bars will be thinner and crispier. You can make a double batch and bake them in a 9×13” baking pan.

Are ready to make a batch of these carmelitas? They so soft and chewy with that gooey chocolate caramel filling – every bite is to die for!

More Amazing Dessert Bars

• Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars have a shortbread crust topped with cheesecake, cinnamon diced apples, and finished with a streusel topping. Drizzled caramel on top adds the finishing touch!
• Soft and tender Frosted Banana Bars are always a hit! They’re easy to make and great for serving a crowd.
• Cherry Pie Bars taste like the best cherry pie but so much easier to make!
• Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars are a favorite sandwich turned into dessert!

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!

 

5 from 1 vote

Carmelitas

Soft, chewy Carmelitas are stuffed with caramel and chocolate in a oatmeal crust!

Prep:15 minutes mins

Cook:25 minutes mins

Total:40 minutes mins

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12

Ingredients

Crust

• ▢ 1 ½ cups old fashioned rolled oats
• ▢ 1 cup all purpose flour
• ▢ 1 cup light brown sugar
• ▢ ½ tsp baking soda
• ▢ ½ tsp salt
• ▢ ¾ cup unsalted butter melted

For the filling

• ▢ 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ▢ ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chopped
• ▢ 40 soft caramels unwrapped
• ▢ ½ cup heavy cream

Instructions

• Preheat the oven 350ºF. Line an 8” square baking pan with baking parchment or spray with nonstick spray. Set aside.
• Add the oats, flour, sugar, bicarbonate of soda and sea salt to a large bowl and mix to combine.
• Pour in the melted butter and mix until all the ingredients in the bowl are completely coated with the butter.
• Put 2/3rds of the crust into the prepared baking pan. Use a spatula to press it down. With clean hands, use your fingers to press the mixture into an even layer. The warmth from your hands will make the process easier.
• Put the pan into the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the caramel by putting the unwrapped soft caramels and heavy cream into a small saucepan set over a low heat. Stir continuously with a wooden spoon until the caramels have melted. Remove from the heat and reserve 2 tablespoons of the caramel sauce into a separate bowl (you will use this for drizzling later). Set the caramel aside for now.
• When the base of the Carmelitas has had 10 minutes in the oven, take the pan out and sprinkle over the chocolate chips and chopped chocolate.
• Pour the caramel in an even layer over the top. Spoon the remaining oats and flour mixture on top, press down gently.
• Return the pan to the oven and bake for 15 minutes or until the Carmelitas are a light golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and leave to set in the pan for an hour or so. Turn the Carmelitas out and use a sharp knife to cut into 12 equal squares.
• Drizzle over the reserved caramel and serve.

Tips

Can You Use Quick Oats Instead Of Old-Fashioned Oats?

You can use quick cooking oats but your bars won’t be as chewy.

Can You Use Other Kinds Of Chocolate?

I recommend using chocolate chips and chopped chocolate for the best texture. The chopped chocolate melts really well while the chocolate chips will hold their shape adding texture. You can use semi-sweet, milk chocolate chips, or dark chocolate. Or, use a combo.

Can You Use A Different Size Baking Pan For This Recipe?

You can use a 9” square baking pan but your bars will be thinner and crispier. You can make a double batch and bake them in a 9×13” baking pan.

Tips For The Best Carmelita Bars

• Use chopped chocolate and chocolate chips for the best gooey chocolate center!
• Don’t overbake the bars otherwise they won’t be as soft and chewy.
• Line the baking dish with parchment paper to make it easy to lift the bars out in one piece before you slice them. Do this while they’re still a little warm so they’re easy to slice.
• Leftover bars can be reheated to soften the caramel and chocolate filling.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 517kcal (26%), Carbohydrates: 69g (23%), Protein: 6g (12%), Fat: 26g (40%), Saturated Fat: 15g (94%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 45mg (15%), Sodium: 236mg (10%), Potassium: 262mg (7%), Fiber: 3g (13%), Sugar: 47g (52%), Vitamin A: 524IU (10%), Vitamin C: 1mg (1%), Calcium: 90mg (9%), Iron: 2mg (11%)

© Julie's Eats & Treats ®

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.