Carmelitas (Oatmeal Caramel Bars)
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I am obsessed with these Carmelitas! Oatmeal cookie dough is baked resulting in a soft yet slightly chewy foundation then layered with caramel sauce, chocolate chips, chocolate candies then topped with more oatmeal cookie dough and baked until gooey and crisp! These are great for the holidays!
Carmelitas are my new go-to treat to make when friends and family come over. My carmelitas are slightly different than the typical recipe as I use chocolate candies (such as m&ms) for texture and color. I find them to be more appealing with a little color! I love to bake dessert bars like this during the Fall as it feels more appropriate and comforting. These are a fun treat to make with kiddos and easy to adapt for the holidays…think halloween, Christmas, or Easter m&ms!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple to make! You don’t have to be a “baker” to make this recipe. The process to make these is easy and straight-forward. I don’t think anyone would have any trouble making this recipe!
- Caramelitas are indulgent: Treats like this are not often made so these feel and taste super special.
- You can freeze them: You can make these, let them cool and then freeze them for up to 3 months.
- Cookie dough can also be frozen: If you’re not ready to make them, you can make the dough and freeze it to make them at another time! This is a great way to prepare for holiday parties, etc.
The Ingredients:
- Butter: unsalted butter is used for flavor, moisture and helps the cookie dough crisp up.
- Brown sugar (dark or light): Brown sugar is used to sweeten the Carmelitas. I love dark brown sugar, but light would work, too!
- Quick cooking oatmeal: Quick cooking oats provide texture and they hold up well in this recipe.
- Baking soda: The leveling agent used to help the cookie bar puff up!
- All purpose flour: A little flour is used to round out the oatmeal cookie dough providing a good base for the caramel.
- Salt: A little salt gives these bars that extra punch of salty sweet flavor!
- Vanilla Extract: Vanilla enhances flavor while adding richness, and a sweet and aromatic taste which compliments the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Caramels: A bag of caramels is used to create a gooey caramel sauce for dousing on top of the cookie dough.
- Heavy whipping cream: A little cream helps thin out the caramel sauce giving it the perfect consistency.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Chocolate chips add sweetness, color and texture!
- Chocolate candies (like m&ms): Chocolate coated add texture and color to the Carmelita. Switch the colors up for different holidays!
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease or line an 8×8 inch baking with parchment paper.
- Make the cookie dough: Cream butter, brown sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Mix in oats, flour, baking soda and salt. Press 3/4 of the cookie dough into the prepared pan and bake for 13 minutes.
- Melt caramel: melt the caramels, heavy cream and butter in a medium sauce pan over low heat until melted.
- Assemble the Carmelitas and bake: Pour the melted caramel over the cookie crust, sprinkle with chocolate chips, chocolate candies, then crumble the rest of the cookie dough over top. Bake for 13 minutes. Remove and cool.
Can you make Carmelitas gluten free?
Yes! Simply switch out the oats for gluten free oats and the flour for cup for cup gluten free flour! I like to use I like to use King Arthur Measure for Measure Gluten Free Flour.
I love making dessert bars. They’re great for parties, travel well and easy to make. Here are some other cookie bar treats that I think you will enjoy! Salted Caramel Cookie Bars, Nutella Walnut Cookie Bars, Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars. All of these recipes have caramel in them and are simple to make!
These carmelitas are gooey, soft, crispy, buttery…basically the most delicious cookie bar treat ever! I highly suggest making them for a get together with friends and family. You will not be disappointed! Please rate and leave a comment below! I love hearing from you!
Carmelitas (Oatmeal Caramel Bars)
Oatmeal cookie dough is baked resulting in a soft yet slightly chewy foundation then layered with caramel sauce, chocolate chips, chocolate candies then topped with more oatmeal cookie dough and baked until gooey and crisp! These are great for the holidays!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temp (divided. 2 tbsp will be used for caramel sauce)
- 3/4 cup light or dark brown sugar
- 1 cup quick cooking oats (other oats would work)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 32 caramels, unwrapped (1 bag)
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chocolate coated candied (like m&ms)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray an 8x8 or 9x9 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. You can also line with parchment paper, set aside.
- Cream together butter, brown sugar and vanilla until smooth; scraping down sides of the bowl if needed.
- Next, mix in oats, flour, salt and baking soda just until incorporated.
- Press 3/4 of the cookie doigh into the prepared pan and bake for 13 minutes.
- While the cookie crust is baking, prepare the caramel sauce by adding caramels, heavy cream and butter to sauce pan. Place over low-heat and melt stirring often.
- Once crust is done, remove from oven and evenly pour the caramel sauce on top. Sprinkle chocolate chips, chocolate candies and crumble the rest of the cookie doigh evenly on top and bake for an additional 13 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool before cutting.
Notes
Caramelitas can be frozen for up to 3 months - thaw overnight on the counter. Cookie dough can also be frozen for up to 3 months -thaw the cookie dough in the refrgerator overnight.
