Name: Oatmeal Carmelitas
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients: 1/2 cup heavy cream; 32 unwrapped caramel squares (or 11 ounce bag of caramel bits); 1/4 teaspoon salt; 3/4 cup butter (melted); 1 cup brown sugar; 1 1/4 cup old fashioned oats (use gluten free as needed); 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (use oat flour for gluten free); 1 cup chocolate chips (I like dark but semi-sweet works as well); Mini chocolate chips; caramel sauce for drizzling; chopped pecans

Oatmeal carmelitas are soft & chewy oatmeals bars filled with a gooey caramel filling and oozing chocolate. These bars are seriously so irresistible & perfect for sharing!

Oatmeal Carmelitas make the perfect easy decadent treat. Best of all, they're soft, chewy and full of delicious layers of oatmeal, chocolate and gooey caramel. Great for bringing along to dessert bars or any potluck or parties.

Carmelitas are one of my favorite all time desserts! I have such a weakness for anything made with oats. When you combine them with gooey caramel, melted chocolate and pecans….the combination is just pure heaven!

I can still remember making these for the first time I made them for my husband. Seeing how fast he finished off the entire batch was the best feeling. This is saying a lot since he is not usually a fan of oat bars.

OATMEAL CARMELITAS

There are a few separate layers that come together fairly easily. The crust and topping are made with the same mixture. It’s a buttery, soft and chewy oatmeal and flour mixture.

Half is pressed into the pan and baked for 10 minutes as the crust, and the other is crumbled over the top.

The gooey filling is melted caramel & heavy cream — it takes a bit of time to unwrap 30+ caramels or just use these (affiliate link —>) caramel bits which will save you about 2.5 minutes 🙂

Once it cools, pour over the layer of chocolate chips, and crumble the reserved oatmeal mixture over the top.

The hardest part is allowing these bars to cool completely before cutting into them. Or mjs toss them in the fridge or freezer so they set up quicker. They start to get a little bit drippy and gooey as they come to room temperature.

These bars are rich, decadent and loaded with an intense caramel flavor. They’re full of texture and the perfect cure for those times you just need that extra special dessert.

Oatmeals Carmelitas make a decadent sweet treat

Oatmeal Carmelitas

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

35 mins

Total Time

55 mins

Oatmeal carmelitas are soft & chewy oatmeals bars filled with a gooey caramel filling with oozing chocolate. These bars are seriously so irresistible & perfect for sharing!

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: caramel dessert, oatmeal squares

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 360 kcal

Ingredients

1/2 cup heavy cream
32 unwrapped caramel squares or 11 ounce bag of caramel bits
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter melted
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 cup old fashioned oats use gluten free as needed
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour use oat flour for gluten free
1 cup chocolate chips I like dark but semi-sweet works as well

Optional Toppings:

Mini chocolate chips
caramel sauce for drizzling
chopped pecans

Instructions

Add the caramel, heavy cream and salt into a small saucepan over low heat. Cook and stir until smooth and combined. Set aside to cool.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Line an 8x8 inch square pan with parchment paper or foil sprayed with cooking spray, leaving a slight overhang to easily remove bars.
Stir together melted butter, brown sugar, flour, and oats until combined.
Pour half of the oatmeal mixture into the prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
Remove pan from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the crust. Pour caramel mixture over chocolate chips, then sprinkle the remaining crust dough over the caramel, pressing down slightly.
Return pan to the oven and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool completely before cutting. Place in fridge or freezer to speed up the process.
When cooled, remove bars using overhang and cut into squares. Top with more chocolate chips, chopped pecans, and caramel drizzle if desired.

Recipe Notes

Slightly dapted from: Lulu the Baker

Nutrition Facts

Oatmeal Carmelitas

Amount Per Serving (1 square)

Calories 360 Calories from Fat 171

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 19g 29%

Saturated Fat 11g 55%

Cholesterol 46mg 15%

Sodium 169mg 7%

Potassium 79mg 2%