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Carmelitas Bars

These gooey, chocolatey Carmelitas Bars are effortless to make and satisfy your sweet tooth with layers of rich caramel and chocolate.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 16 bars
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 180
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Base and Topping
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour For structure
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats Do not use quick oats
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar For sweetness
  • 1/2 cup butter Melted, for richness
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt To round out flavors
Filling
  • 14 ounces soft caramels Melted with cream
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream To smooth the caramels
  • 1 cup chocolate chips Semi-sweet preferred
Optional Toppings
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts Optional for added texture
  • to taste flaky sea salt For finishing

Method
 

Make the Crust and Topping
  1. In a bowl, mix flour, oats, brown sugar, salt, and melted butter until clumpy. The mixture should be sandy and moist.
  2. Press about half of the mixture into a lined 8-inch square pan, leaving a tiny rim around the edges.
Layer and Bake
  1. Par-bake the crust until lightly set.
  2. Melt the caramels with cream over low heat, stirring until smooth.
  3. Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the warm crust.
  4. Pour the warm caramel evenly over the chocolate layer.
  5. Crumble the remaining oat mixture on top, leaving gaps for caramel to bubble up.
  6. Bake until the top is golden and caramel bubbles at the edges.
  7. Cool completely before slicing to ensure neat bars.

Notes

Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature, or refrigerate for up to 1 week. For freezing, place cut bars in a single layer until solid, then transfer to a zip-top bag for up to 3 months. Chill before serving for neat presentation.