Oatmeal Carmelitas
Buttery oatmeal crumble bars layered with melted semisweet chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, and thick gooey caramel. Crispy on the outside, chewy and stretchy on the inside — dangerously easy to make.
- Total Time40 minutes
- Yield16 servings 1x
Ingredients
Units
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- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup quick cooking oats
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 3/4 cup melted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 3/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour (mixed into caramel to thicken)
Instructions
- Heat and Grease: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×9-inch square baking pan.
- Make the Oat Crumble Base: Combine 1 cup flour, baking soda, oats, brown sugar, salt, and melted butter. Mix until crumbly. Press half of the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Par-Bake the Crust: Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes. Remove and let cool slightly.
- Layer the Filling: Sprinkle chocolate chips and chopped walnuts evenly over the warm crust. Stir together the caramel ice cream topping with 3 tablespoons flour, then drizzle over the chocolate and nuts.
- Add the Crumble Topping: Break the reserved oat mixture into small pieces and scatter evenly over the caramel layer.
- Final Bake: Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes until the topping is golden and caramel is bubbling. Let bars cool completely before cutting into squares.
Notes
Let bars cool completely (at least 1 hour) before cutting for clean slices. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. For extra indulgence, sprinkle with flaky sea salt right after baking. Pecans can be substituted for walnuts.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Snack
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 150
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Protein: 3
