Description
Indulge in the decadent goodness of these caramel-filled oatmeal chocolate bars known as Carmelitas. A perfect combination of sweet, salty, and crunchy layers that create a heavenly dessert experience.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crust:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the Filling:
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¾ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- 1 cup caramel sauce or 35 soft caramels melted with 2 tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Prepare the Crust: In a large mixing bowl, combine melted butter and brown sugar. Stir in flour, oats, baking soda, and salt to form a crumbly dough. Press half into the pan and bake for 10 minutes.
- Add Fillings: Sprinkle chocolate chips and nuts over the crust. Pour caramel sauce on top. Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the caramel layer.
- Bake: Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Cool, then chill for at least 1 hour before slicing into bars.
Notes
- Chilling ensures clean slices.
- Use store-bought or homemade caramel sauce.
- For a twist, sprinkle sea salt on top.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
