These delicious Carmelitas are made with layers of oatmeal crust, chocolate chips, and creamy caramel sauce—the perfect combination of flavors.
I have a feeling this carmelita recipe is going to wow your family and friends. The bars are ooey-gooey with chocolate and caramel layers and the best soft oatmeal cookie crust—a dessert bar dream made into reality. I can’t wait for you to try them.
Caramel goes well with anything, but these carmelitas are one of my family’s favorite ways to eat it. I mean, who can resist layers of chocolate and caramel?
My Favorite Kitchen Tools To Make This Recipe
From trusty pots and pans to handy gadgets, I’ve curated a list of products I use and love.
This is mainly because we love oatmeal and chocolate, so having three of our favorite ingredients in one recipe will be a winner.
If you’ve never tried them, caramelitas are a dessert bar with a signature gooeyness that is so incredibly good. We love them warm with a big scoop of ice cream, but they pair equally well with a cold glass of milk.
This recipe is for you if you love oatmeal cookies, chocolate, and caramel. Not surprisingly, my kids give these rave reviews, primarily when I serve them with caramel sauce on the side for dunking.
You will give these carmelitas a rave review, too, I’m sure! They are seriously the best sweet treat to finish a meal.
Ingredients
- Unwrapped caramel squares
- Heavy cream
- Coarse sea salt
- Melted butter
- Brown sugar
- Flour
- Rolled oats
- Baking soda
- Semisweet chocolate chips
How do you make Carmelitas?
Spread the caramel into an even layer.
Recipe Tips
This recipe works best with caramels that have been melted in cream. I haven’t tested it with homemade caramel sauce from scratch or store-bought sauce. You want a sauce that is thick and creamy and making it with the caramel squares works best.
Be sure to use rolled oats and not quick-cooking oats for this recipe. You need the rolled ones for the best texture.
They should be stored and served at room temperature. Keep them in an airtight container and they should stay fresh for a few days.
Every bite of these decadent bars is filled with chocolate and caramel! It pairs wonderfully with the oatmeal cookie crust to make the best carmelitas ever. Give them a try and you’ll see, everyone will love them!
Enjoy! XOXO San
More Dessert Bars
Love these treats? You need to try these recipes, too:
Don’t forget to pin this to your favorite Pinterest board to save for later!
Carmelitas
Ingredients
- 32 caramel squares unwrapped
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt
- 3/4 cup butter melted
- 3/4 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. This recipe makes an 8×8 pan; if you want to double the recipe you can use a 9×13 pan. Spray the pan with oil and line with parchment paper.
- Combine caramels and cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until completely smooth, add sea salt, and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, flour, oats, and baking soda. Measure out 1/2 cup and set aside for later. Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of the 8"x8" pan
- Bake oatmeal mixture for 10 minutes then remove from oven.
- Sprinkle chocolate chips over crust. Pour caramel mixture on chocolate chips. Crumble remaining oatmeal mixture on top.
- Return to oven and bake an additional 15-20 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool completely before cutting.
- *A stint in the fridge will help them cool if you’re pinched for time. They shouldn’t be served cold, but all of that molten caramel takes a long time to cool down. They should be stored and served at room temperature.
I bet these are yummy! Pinning to my dessert page. I hope to make these over the holidays.
Theresa – great holiday give aways, can’t wait to see what projects you post this holiday season. xoxo San
I LOVE Carmelitas! I made some last Fall/Winter and I need to try them again! I’ll have to compare my recipe with this one- they look beautiful!
Nicole – I always love trying new recipes too -so be sure to pass it on. San
Love caramel! pinning these to try later 🙂
I’ve never heard of these and I am a caramel lover! Pinned to my cookie monster board!
If this is your dessert moving forward, I definitely have to try it. Just pinned it to my sweet treats board, yum!
Love anything caramel, pinned it for you….
I love carmelitas! thanks for sharing, i’ll have to try your recipe 🙂 http://www.handmadeintheheartland.com/
Yum these sound good. I like rolled oats in desserts because I can always tell myself that makes it nutritious 🙂 Visit from Talking Tuesday.
Just wanted to let you know we will be featuring this at Talking Tuesday.
Mary Ellen I am so excited! Thank you! Can’t wait till the link party.
You really are a girl after my own heart. All of your recipes are hitting it out of the ball park with me! I am much more a caramel girl than a chocolate. Love this and pinning it also. It’s easy to see why you are a caterer. Lots of good recipes! I love to cook, but rarely post about it. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thank you for the nice recipe.
Holy schnikes! These are delicious.
Such a perfect dessert, I know everyone will love them!
Oh my gosh I love this. Anything caramel and I am in love!
These Carmelitas would disappear in our house!
WOW!! I am drooling over these! They are amazing! A MUST make!
I am loving these! They are incredibly delicious!
These bars are so mouthwatering! I am sure it will be our new favorite treat!
Love these so much, so rich and gooey! Bonus: My dog’s name is Carmella! 🙂
i wanna taste it as soon as possible!
I love Carmelitas They are the perfect dessert! !!!
These bars look absolutely delicious! It will undoubtedly become our new favorite treat!