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Carmelitas Bars Recipe

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4.4 from 62 reviews

  • Author: admin
  • Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes including chilling and cooling
  • Yield: 16 servings 1x

Description

Delicious homemade Carmelitas featuring a crispy oat cookie base, a rich caramel layer, and a smooth chocolate topping, perfect for an indulgent dessert or snack. These bars combine the chewy texture of oats with the gooey sweetness of caramel and the richness of semi-sweet chocolate, all baked to golden perfection.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Base

  • 3/4 cup salted butter, melted
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 cup rolled oats or old fashioned oats
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided

Filling & Topping

  • 40 caramel squares
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line and grease an 8×8 inch baking pan, ideally with parchment paper to prevent sticking and to make removal easier.
  2. Make the Cookie Mixture: In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. Whisk in the brown sugar and vanilla extract until well combined.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the flour, oats, baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the butter mixture. Mix with a pastry cutter or fork until crumbly and fully incorporated.
  4. Form the Base: Press about half of this mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to create the crust. Bake for 10 minutes until slightly set.
  5. Prepare the Caramel Filling: While the crust bakes, place the caramel squares, heavy cream, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high for 1 minute, stir, heat another minute, then stir until smooth and melted. Avoid overheating to prevent seizing.
  6. Layer the Chocolate: Once the crust finishes baking, immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the hot crust.
  7. Add the Caramel Layer: Pour the prepared caramel sauce evenly over the layer of chocolate chips.
  8. Top with Remaining Crust: Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the caramel layer, gently pressing or tapping down to form an even topping.
  9. Bake the Bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned and set.
  10. Cooling and Slicing: Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack. For clean slices and to prevent caramel from oozing, let the bars set at room temperature overnight or chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours before slicing into 16 squares.

Notes

  • Use parchment paper for easier removal of the bars from the pan.
  • Be careful not to overheat the caramel mixture to avoid it seizing.
  • Allow the bars to cool completely and chill before cutting to ensure clean slices.
  • If desired, substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips with dark or milk chocolate chips according to preference.
  • Rolled oats provide better texture than quick oats for the base and topping.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

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Find it online: https://mamabrisrecipes.com/carmelitas-bars-recipe/