Description
Chocolate and caramel intertwine magically in Carmelitas, creating an irresistible dessert that melts hearts with each gooey bite. Rich oatmeal cookie layers embrace silky caramel and chocolate chips, promising pure indulgence you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup (220 grams) brown sugar, packed
- 1 ¼ cups (156 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (90 grams) old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup (170 grams) semisweet chocolate chips
Caramel Components:
- 1 (11 ounces/312 grams) bag caramel bits or 30 soft caramels, unwrapped
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) heavy cream
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare a cozy baking environment by warming the oven to 350F and crafting a perfectly lined baking vessel with parchment paper or a generous butter coating.
- Craft a luxurious base by whisking melted butter, rich brown sugar, and aromatic vanilla into a silky, harmonious mixture.
- Integrate dry ingredients – flour, hearty oats, baking soda, and salt – creating a textured, crumbly foundation that promises delectable layers.
- Gently compress half of the oat mixture into the prepared dish, forming a sturdy, even base layer that will cradle the upcoming flavors.
- Allow the crust to transform in the oven for 10 minutes, developing a golden, promising landscape.
- Meanwhile, orchestrate a velvety caramel sauce by tenderly melting caramels with heavy cream, stirring patiently until achieving a smooth, glossy consistency.
- Strategically scatter chocolate chips across the freshly baked, warm crust, then cascade the molten caramel mixture, spreading with delicate precision.
- Artfully sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the caramel landscape, creating a rustic, textured topping.
- Return the creation to the oven, allowing it to bake for 15-18 minutes until the surface achieves a beautiful golden hue and edges bubble with anticipation.
- Exercise patience by letting the dessert cool completely, ideally for two hours, which enables the caramel to set and flavors to harmonize before slicing into decadent bars.
Notes
- Chilling the bars helps create clean, precise cuts and prevents caramel from oozing.
- Swap regular flour with gluten-free blend for celiac or gluten-sensitive individuals to make the recipe inclusive.
- Use dark chocolate chips for a richer, less sweet flavor profile that complements the caramel’s richness.
- Enhance texture by toasting oats briefly before mixing for a deeper, nuttier undertone in the base layer.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 237
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 85 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg