Carmelita Bars
Indulge in the irresistible layers of these homemade Carmelita Bars, a decadent treat packed with gooey caramel, melty chocolate, and buttery oat crumble. Perfectly balanced in sweetness, these bars start with a golden oat crust, are topped with rich caramel sauce thickened for extra creaminess, and finished with a crumbly oat topping for the ultimate texture. Optional chopped pecans or walnuts add a delightful crunch, making this dessert a must-try for caramel and chocolate lovers alike. With just 15 minutes of prep time and straightforward steps, these bars are as easy to make as they are delicious. Whether you’re serving them as a crowd-pleasing dessert or a sweet indulgence with coffee, Carmelita Bars are bound to impress. Keywords: caramel dessert bars, chocolate oat bars, easy dessert recipe, homemade carmelitas, caramel chocolate recipe.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 0.75 cup brown sugar, packed
- 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
- 0.75 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup caramel sauce
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for caramel mixture)
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 0.5 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease or line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang for easy removal.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt.
Stir in the melted butter until the mixture is evenly moistened and holds together when pressed between your fingers.
Take half of the oat mixture and press it firmly into the bottom of your prepared pan to form the crust. Reserve the other half for the topping.
Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 10 minutes until lightly golden.
While the crust is baking, prepare the caramel layer by mixing the caramel sauce with 3 tablespoons of flour. This will help thicken the caramel as it bakes.
After removing the crust from the oven, immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the crust. Add the chopped nuts (if using) on top of the chocolate layer.
Pour the caramel mixture evenly over the chocolate chips and nuts, spreading gently if needed.
Crumble the reserved oat mixture evenly over the caramel layer, covering as much of the surface as possible.
Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 12–15 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the caramel is bubbling.
Remove the pan from the oven and allow it to cool completely at room temperature. For cleaner cuts, refrigerate the pan for at least 1–2 hours before slicing into bars.
Lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper. Slice into 12 squares or rectangles and serve. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
403 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 23.1 g | 30% | |
| Saturated Fat | 12.2 g | 61% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 42 mg | 14% | |
| Sodium | 196 mg | 9% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 47.3 g | 17% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.5 g | 9% | |
| Total Sugars | 32.3 g | ||
| Protein | 3.9 g | 8% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 41 mg | 3% | |
| Iron | 1.4 mg | 8% | |
| Potassium | 127 mg | 3% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
