Carmelitas

Oatmeal Carmelita bars stacked on top of each other.

5 from 5 votes

Soft caramel sauce from scratch and a generous sprinkling of chocolate chips between two layers of oatmeal cookie base makes for a classic, rustic treat. They’re the perfect recipe for any lover of caramel.

Prep Time15

Cook Time20

Total Time35

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 2x2 squares

Calories: 333kcal

Author: Rachel

Ingredients

Oatmeal Cookie Bars

¾ cup Butter softened
¾ cup Light Brown Sugar
1 cup All-Purpose Flour
1 cup Old-fashioned oats
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
6 oz Chocolate Chips any variety you prefer

Caramel Sauce

1 ½ cup Caramel Nibs See note at the bottom for substitutions
⅓ cup Whipping Cream

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, flour, oats, and baking soda. Press half of the oatmeal mixture into the bottom of an 8x8 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
In a small saucepan over med-low heat, add the caramel bits and whipping cream. Stir until smooth. Pour over baked oatmeal crust. Sauce will thicken as it cools so I recommend not waiting more than 1-2 minutes before pouring.
Sprinkle chocolate chips over the caramel and oatmeal crust. Crumble remaining oatmeal mixture over the pan.
Return to oven at 350 and bake for 15-18 minutes or until the edges crisp. I usually see the caramel bubble up on the outside.

Video

Notes

If you can't find Caramel Bits, there are a few ways you can make the caramel sauce:

Caramel Squares- 32 squares plus ⅓ cup whipping cream. Same directions as in Recipe below.
Caramel Sauce (the kind you squeeze over ice cream like this ) - 1 ½ cups caramel topping plus ½ cup flour. In a small saucepan, combine them with a whisk. Bring to a slight boil, stirring constantly and boil 1-3 minutes. If you use a thicker jarred variety, if it is thick enough, you may just need to zap it in the microwave a few seconds to pour over the Carmelites.
Sweetened Condensed Milk -Bring a pot of water to a boil. Carefully place the can in the saucepan, ensuring there’s enough water to completely cover the can at all times, topping up water frequently throughout the cooking process. Simmer uncovered for 3 hours. (Yes, 3 hours!)

Nutrition