Oatmeal Carmelitas

Indulge in the irresistible layers of sweet, buttery goodness with these Oatmeal Carmelitas—dessert bars that strike the perfect balance between chewy and gooey. This recipe combines a crumbly oatmeal crust with rich caramel sauce, melted semi-sweet chocolate chips, and optional crunchy pecans for a truly decadent bite. Quick to prepare in just 20 minutes, the bars feature a golden topping of crumbled oatmeal dough, allowing the warm caramel to peek through for an eye-catching finish. Perfect for holidays, potlucks, or any sweet craving, these Oatmeal Carmelitas are baked to perfection and set in the fridge for a firm, sliceable treat. A crowd-pleaser with indulgent layers and textures, they're guaranteed to become your new favorite dessert.

Nutriscore Rating: 37/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:45 mins

Servings: 16

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1.5 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup caramel sauce
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 0.5 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.

Step 2

In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Remove from heat and stir in the brown sugar and vanilla extract until smooth.

Step 3

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, rolled oats, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and stir until a crumbly dough forms.

Step 4

Press half of the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan to form the bottom crust. Reserve the other half of the dough for the topping.

Step 5

Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly.

Step 6

While the crust is baking, combine the caramel sauce and heavy cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until smooth and warmed through, then remove from heat.

Step 7

Sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly over the partially baked crust. If using pecans, sprinkle them over the chocolate chips.

Step 8

Pour the caramel mixture evenly over the chocolate chips and nuts. Crumble the remaining oatmeal dough on top of the caramel layer, leaving some gaps to let the caramel peek through.

Step 9

Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 15-18 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and set.

Step 10

Remove the pan from the oven and allow the Carmelitas to cool completely in the pan. For best results, refrigerate for 1-2 hours to firm up before cutting into squares.

Step 11

Lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang, then slice them into 16 squares. Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1212.5 grams (1212.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4963

Total Fat 246.50g	316%
Saturated Fat 120.60g	603%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.20g
Cholesterol 405mg	135%
Sodium 3071mg	134%
Total Carbohydrate 695.40g	253%
Dietary Fiber 34.20g	122%
Total Sugars 451.80g
Protein 55.40g	111%

Vitamin D 13IU	64%
Calcium 418mg	32%
Iron 19mg	105%
Potassium 1350mg	29%

*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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 42.5%

Protein: 4.2%

Carbs: 53.3%