These easy Carmelitas are buttery, brown, sugar, oatmeal bar cookies oozing with chocolate chips and caramel sauce. They are the ultimate bar cookie and are always a huge hit at parties and potlucks. With ten common ingredients and fifteen minutes of prep time, these are, without a doubt, one of our favorite bars.
How to make Carmelitas
First, cover your pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Then in a medium bowl, mix together the flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, melted butter, and vanilla extract with a fork.
Using a spoon and a fork, pat a little more than half of the crust mixture into your prepared pan and bake it for 10 minutes.
While it is baking, prepare the caramel sauce. Add the unwrapped caramels and the heavy cream to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 60-second intervals, stirring well after each interval, until the caramels are melted, and the sauce is smooth. Using a whisk towards the end of the melting process makes a smoother caramel sauce.
Remove the baked oat mixture from the oven and sprinkle it with chocolate chips.
Pour the caramel sauce over the chocolate chips. Sprinkle with the remaining oat mixture and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely before cutting. Once slightly cooled, you can speed the process up by placing the pan in the fridge.
Recipe Notes
- Line your pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil sprayed with nonstick spray. The caramel sauce gets very sticky, and it tries to stick to the pan.
- Quick oats can be substituted, but we prefer old-fashioned rolled oats for a chewier texture and finish.
- Have the caramels unwrapped and ready to go before you start the recipe.
- You can also make the caramel sauce on the stovetop over low heat, stirring very frequently until melted and smooth.
- For a change of taste, try other chip flavors like dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, or peanut butter.
- Add chopped pecans, walnuts, peanuts, or macadamia nuts.
- Store fully cooled bars in an airtight container on the counter at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the fridge for up to 8 days.
How to freeze Carmelitas
To freeze the whole dish, wrap it in two layers of plastic wrap followed by a layer of foil. Place on a level surface in the freezer and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter overnight.
To freeze individual slices, cool completely, and slice into bars. Place the bars on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Place the baking sheet on a level surface in the freezer. Once frozen, layer them in an airtight container with parchment or wax paper between the layers because caramel can remain a little sticky even when frozen.
More dessert bars
Carmelitas
Ingredients
- Cookie Base
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Caramel Sauce
- 36 caramels unwrapped (Kraft brand)
- ½ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil sprayed with nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, melted butter, and vanilla extract with a fork.
- Using a spoon and a fork, pat a little more than half of the mixture into your prepared pan and bake it for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add the unwrapped caramels and the heavy cream to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 60-second intervals, stirring well after each interval, until the caramels are melted, and the sauce is smooth. Use a whisk towards the end of the melting process for a smoother caramel sauce.
- Remove the baked oat mixture from the oven and sprinkle it with the chocolate chips.
- Pour the caramel sauce over the chocolate chips. Sprinkle with the remaining oat mixture and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool completely before cutting. Once slightly cooled, you can speed the process up by placing the pan in the fridge.
Notes
- Line your pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil sprayed with nonstick spray. The caramel sauce gets very sticky, and it tries to stick to the pan.
- Quick oats can be substituted, but we prefer old-fashioned rolled oats for a chewier texture and finish.
- Have the caramels unwrapped and ready to go before you start the recipe.
- You can also make the caramel sauce on the stovetop over low heat, stirring very frequently until melted and smooth.
- For a change of taste, try other chip flavors like dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, or peanut butter.
- Add chopped pecans, walnuts, peanuts, or macadamia nuts.
- Store fully cooled bars in an airtight container on the counter at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the fridge for up to 8 days.
Nutrition
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Ali
I love the combination of caramel and oats! These carmelitas were delicious!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Ali! We love them too!
John
This is the most delicious dessert I have ever had. Even the smell of the Carmelitas makes me crave them. I recently tried the Carmelita recipe, and I have to say it was delicious! The layers of oats, chocolate, and caramel all blended perfectly together to create a heavenly treat. The recipe was easy to follow, and the result was impressive. I love that I can now make this dessert home and impress my friends and family. I highly recommend trying this recipe; you won’t regret it!
Note: Make a lot of them because once you taste one you won’t be able to get enough, lol
Beth Pierce
Thanks, John! So glad that you you liked the carmelitas! I guess you will be making them again!
Sharon
Yum
Beti
Wow!! These Carmelitas are incredible!! The flavors are amazing!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Beti!
katerina
Carmelitas are my faaave and this recipe is perfect. I can’t wait to make them again!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Katerina!
Monidipa Dutta
Wow, these Carmelitas were absolutely divine! The gooey caramel center combined with the crumbly oat crust was the best. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Zab
Great bar cookies with my two favorites, caramel, and chocolate. I will make these again and again.
Melissa Cushing
My kids and my husband love these bars! They are crazy delicious and easy to make. Thank you!
Lavanda
The combination of buttery, brown sugar oatmeal bar cookies with chocolate chips and caramel sauce sounds amazing!
Jupiter Hadley
Oh wow I have never heard of this before but it sounds like a really heaty dessert! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe.
Catalina
I am drooling over these Carmelitas! It has all the ingredients that I love!
Erin | Dinners, Dishes and Dessert
These are totally irresistible! This is a must-try for anyone that loves caramel and chocolate!
Karen
I’ve never heard of Carmelitas before now! This looks soooooo delicious! I can’t wait to make it myself!
Tammy
Oh goodness these look so fabulous! What a fun and indulgent treat 😀 I just love caramel and chocolate <3
Alita Pacio
This is one of the best in all your recipes. I love the buttery, brown sugar and oats bar with the chocolate chip layer, nuts, and caramel inside.
Marie Cris Angeles
Looks so yummy! I will definitely try this recipe. I super love cookies, my comfort food.