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4.6 from 66 votes

Carmelitas

These Carmelitas are a buttery, brown sugar and oats bar with chocolate chips, nuts, and caramel inside. These are a great dessert for a crowd!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 9 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup quick cooking oats (also works with old-fashioned oats)
  • 3/4 /4 cup brown sugar packed
  • 3/4 /4 cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1/2 /2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 /2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (6 ounces)
  • 1/2 /2 cup Chopped Pecans (optional)
Caramel Sauce using store bought caramel sauce:
  • 1/2 /2 cup high quality caramel ice cream topping (see note)
  • 3 tablespoons flour
Caramel Sauce using caramels:
  • 34 caramel squares, unwrapped
  • 1/2 /2 cup heavy cream

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 8" or 9" square baking dish or line with parchment pan. An 8" dish will yield slightly thicker bars.
  2. In a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, oats, sugar, melted butter, baking soda, and salt. Mix to form crumbs. Divide mixture in half. Press half of the mixture in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes. 
  3. Sprinkle chocolate chips and nuts (if using) in an even layer over baked mixture. For the Caramel Sauce: There are two ways to make the caramel sauce. 1) If using store bought caramel sauce, in a small bowl, mix 3 tablespoons flour with store bought caramel sauce to thicken it. 2) If using square caramels, heat caramels and cream in a pot on the stove whisking and stirring until smooth.Drizzle caramel filling over chocolate chips and nuts. 
  4. Sprinkle remaining oat mixture on top trying to cover most of the caramel. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle with some kosher salt if desired. Cool completely before cutting. This takes a really long time. You can speed these up by placing the bars in the fridge. Serve and store bars at room temperature in an airtight container.

Notes

  • This can be doubled and baked in a 9x13 baking dish.
  • I've also made these without adding flour to the caramel mixture. Depending how thick your caramel sauce is you may not have to add the flour.
  • Source: My mother-in-law's friend Peggy Rothmeier.