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Home / Dessert

Gooey and Delicious Carmelitas

4.80
/5
38 minutes minutes
49 Comments
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By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 02/10/2015

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

With Valentine’s Day coming up this weekend, some of you may be on the hunt for a great dessert to fix for your sweetheart.  Or maybe you want to make something for yourself and boycott the holiday.  Either way, this is the dessert for you!

Carmelitas - The perfect sweet treat for any occasion... these carmelitas are full of sweet oats, luscious chocolate and decadent melted caramel!

Whether you are going all out in your celebration, or keeping it low key at home, this simple and easy dessert is sure to amaze you!  No mixer required, and it comes together quickly… sounds good huh?

So let’s get down to it and see how these yummy bars come together!

Start by melting your butter, then whisking in your brown sugar and vanilla.

Using a rubber spatula, stir in flour, oats, a pinch of salt and baking soda.  It’ll be gooey, but still easy to mix by hand.

Line an 8×8″ baking pan with aluminum foil (non-stick if you have it) and spray lightly with cooking spray.  Divide dough mixture in half and press half into the bottom of the baking pan.  Use your fingers or the back of your rubber spatula to press it.

Carmelitas

Now bake for about 10 minutes or so.  I used that time to make the caramel sauce 🙂  You can use any caramels that you like, I used Kraft brand that are wrapped in cellophane.  You’ll need about 40 caramels, which for me, was the whole bag lol.  Put them in a microwave safe bowl and pour the heavy cream over the top.  Microwave for about 4 minutes, stirring every 60 seconds, until it gets to a smooth, glossy consistency.

Carmelitas - The perfect sweet treat for any occasion... these carmelitas are full of sweet oats, luscious chocolate and decadent melted caramel!

Once the bottom crust is done baking, take it out of the oven and sprinkle your chocolate chips evenly over the top.  I followed the recipe and went with semi-sweet chocolate for this since the bars are already super sweet, but if you’d prefer milk chocolate, go for it!

Pour the caramel sauce over the top of the chocolate chips.  I chose to add some salt to the caramel sauce to make it a salted caramel because I think that flavor combo is just heavenly.

Carmelitas - The perfect sweet treat for any occasion... these carmelitas are full of sweet oats, luscious chocolate and decadent melted caramel!

Now remember that second half of the oat mixture we made?  Here’s where you’re going to use it.  I wanted to crumble it over the top, for a soft, crumbly crust… but you can press it into a flat layer if you’d like.

Carmelitas - The perfect sweet treat for any occasion... these carmelitas are full of sweet oats, luscious chocolate and decadent melted caramel!

Just slide the pan back into the oven for anywhere from 15-18 minutes.  Mine took 18, to get a slightly firm center and lightly golden brown edges.

Carmelitas - The perfect sweet treat for any occasion... these carmelitas are full of sweet oats, luscious chocolate and decadent melted caramel!

At this point, you could be finished and just let the bars cool.  But because I wanted to be a bit more indulgent, I melted some milk chocolate and drizzled it over the top of the bars.

Carmelitas - The perfect sweet treat for any occasion... these carmelitas are full of sweet oats, luscious chocolate and decadent melted caramel!

While it may be SUPER tempting to dive right into these bars, and trust me, it will be… they will taste amazing, but will be a huge mess lol.  Think about what’s under that oat crust… hot melted caramel and chocolate.  It’ll fall apart and liquid candy will be all over your plate lol.  So my advice would be to wait for them to cool for a couple of hours before slicing into them.

Now just be prepared for your mouth to be amazed!

Carmelitas - The perfect sweet treat for any occasion... these carmelitas are full of sweet oats, luscious chocolate and decadent melted caramel!

This recipe makes an 8×8″ pan, but I think you could easily double the recipe and make a 13×9″ pan (the bars just may be a little thicker).  These would also freeze well.  Although I’ve never frozen them (they don’t last long enough lol), Averie at Averie Cooks says they would freeze for several months in an airtight container 🙂

Carmelitas - The perfect sweet treat for any occasion... these carmelitas are full of sweet oats, luscious chocolate and decadent melted caramel!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!

Carmelitas - The perfect sweet treat for any occasion... these carmelitas are full of sweet oats, luscious chocolate and decadent melted caramel!

Gooey and Delicious Carmelitas

4.80 from 5 votes
Author: The Chunky Chef
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 28 minutes minutes
Total Time: 38 minutes minutes
Servings: 8 x8 pan
(hover over # to adjust)
Print Rate Pin
The perfect sweet treat for any occasion… these carmelitas are full of sweet oats, luscious chocolate and decadent melted caramel!

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks)
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats don’t use quick cooking
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt optional
  • 40 caramel squares unwrapped
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 tsp salt (for salted caramel sauce feel free to omit if you’d like)
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup milk chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350. Line an 8×8″ pan with aluminum foil (the nonstick kind if you have it) and spray lightly with cooking spray.
  • Melt butter in small dish, in microwave for about 60 – 90 seconds.
  • Add the brown sugar, vanilla, and whisk until smooth and combined.
  • Add the flour, oats, baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt, and stir with rubber spatula until combined.
  • Add half of the oat mixture to the prepared pan, press it with spatula or fingers, into an even layer.
  • Bake for 10 minutes. While it bakes, make the caramel sauce.
  • In a bowl, combine the unwrapped caramels, cream, and microwave for 4 minutes, stirring every 60 seconds, until the sauce is smooth and easy to stir. Add 1/2 tsp salt and stir.
  • After 10 minutes, remove pan from the oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the oats.
  • Carefully pour the caramel sauce over the chocolate.
  • Crumble remaining oat mixture over the top (or press it into a smooth layer).
  • Place in oven and bake for about 18 minutes (yours might be done sooner, start checking after about 15 minutes), or until edges are lightly browned and center is just set.
  • Melt milk chocolate and drizzle over the top of the bars.
  • Let bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing or else the hot caramel and chocolate will run everywhere. Mine took about 2-3 hours. You could also put the pan in the refrigerator, covered, to speed up the cooling process.

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Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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Meet The Chunky Chef

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

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4.80 from 5 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Recipe Rating




  1. Melanie Anzalone says

    Posted on 8/28 at 7:10 am

    How many “caramel bits” (little unwrapped balls) is 40 squares equal to?
    Thank you

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 8/28 at 7:20 am

      Hi Melanie, I don’t know for certain, but I believe the bag of wrapped caramels is 11oz. Obviously some of that is packaging, so I’d say 9-10oz of the caramel bits.

      Reply
  2. Adelelmeyer says

    Posted on 5/10 at 11:19 am

    What if I forget to bake the first layer, can I bake it all at onceand how long should I bake it then?
    Adele

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 5/10 at 3:56 pm

      I’ve never done it that way before, so I can’t say for certain if it would work, or how long to bake it.

      Reply
  3. Laura says

    Posted on 5/9 at 4:51 pm

    A Tablespoon of vanilla sounds like a lot. Is that correct? I’ve looked at other recipes and some don’t even add vanilla and others add only a teaspoon. Just wanted to clarify. Thanks!!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 5/9 at 6:14 pm

      Hi Laura 🙂 Yes, 1 Tbsp is correct. Of course you could use less if you’re worried, but this recipe has been made quite a bit over the years and I promise it’s not overly vanilla-y 🙂

      Reply
      • Laura says

        Posted on 5/10 at 7:38 am

        Ok. Great! Thanks!! They look wonderful. I’m
        making them for my sisters for Mother’s Day. They deserve a special treat. 

        Reply
  4. Kelley k says

    Posted on 2/25 at 7:03 pm

    Is the butter 1 1/2 cup or 1 1/2 sticks ? The recipe published is a little confusing 

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 2/25 at 9:13 pm

      Hi Kelley, there was a coding issue which is why the recipe was showing like that. I’ve fixed it, but it’s 1.5 sticks (which is 3/4 cup)

      Reply
  5. Elaine says

    Posted on 2/16 at 6:25 pm

    I love the creamy goodness of these! Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday! Hope you come back and share some more!! Pinned!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 2/16 at 9:40 pm

      Thank you!! They’re soooo addicting 🙂 I’ll definitely be back again this week 🙂

      Reply
  6. arls world says

    Posted on 2/15 at 2:13 pm

    These look amazingly delicious! <3 Thanks for sharing! 🙂

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 2/15 at 8:07 pm

      Thank you so much!! 😀

      Reply
  7. Julie is HostessAtHeart says

    Posted on 2/14 at 3:12 pm

    What a decadent dessert! I love everything in it! I am just drooling.

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 2/14 at 3:56 pm

      Thank you!! It’s definitely drool-worthy 😀

      Reply
  8. Jhuls says

    Posted on 2/14 at 6:47 am

    I am not a huge fan of caramel, but these bars might make me to be one. These look incredibly divine. 🙂

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 2/14 at 8:21 am

      Thank you!! I like caramel, but I’m not in love with it like my husband is, but the other flavors really balance it out 🙂 You could always add more chocolate and less caramel 🙂

      Reply
  9. skd says

    Posted on 2/14 at 2:31 am

    That’s such a sweet love story <3 <3 May your life always be filled with love and happiness. The carmelitas look so deliciously gooey and yum. I liked it when you said no reds or pinks but brown because your husband loves it. I think that's really sweet.

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 2/14 at 8:17 am

      Awww thank you so much! 🙂 <3 I'm not a huge pink kind of person, but even if I was... I'd choose something that appealed to him 🙂

      Reply
  10. Amy @ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes says

    Posted on 2/13 at 11:38 pm

    That last closeup had me salivating. I love gooey! Pinning! Stopping by from Best of the Weekend!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 2/14 at 8:15 am

      Thank you so much! Gooey is the best 😀 Have a fantastic weekend!

      Reply
  11. Johanne Lamarche says

    Posted on 2/13 at 9:41 pm

    These look soooooo gooey good!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 2/13 at 10:35 pm

      Thank you!! They’re insanely yummy 🙂

      Reply
  12. suzanne says

    Posted on 2/13 at 9:12 pm

    Perfect descriptors, gooey and delicious and I love the name, Carmelites. They look positively heavenly, Thanks for bringing to the party.

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 2/13 at 9:22 pm

      Thank you so much!! They’re so addictive 😀

      Reply
  13. Julianna says

    Posted on 2/13 at 8:35 pm

    These are just to die for! I am bookmarking for a special occasion! 😀

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 2/13 at 9:21 pm

      Thank you so much!! 😀

      Reply
  14. Miz Helen says

    Posted on 2/13 at 1:51 pm

    Oh my goodness, this look amazing! Thanks so much for sharing your talent with Full Plate Thursday. Wishing you a Valentine Day filled with Love!
    Miz Helen

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 2/13 at 2:14 pm

      Thank you so much!! I hope your Valentine’s Day is great 🙂

      Reply
  15. rue says

    Posted on 2/13 at 12:39 pm

    My diet officially just went down the tubes LOL

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 2/13 at 1:11 pm

      Lol, mine too 🙂 I definitely can’t resist chocolate and caramel

      Reply
  16. sue obryan says

    Posted on 2/13 at 9:36 am

    Holy cow! First the cashew chicken and now these Carmelita bars? My mom used to make these bars from a neighbor’s recipe and our family just loved them when I was growing up. But yours look mouthwateringly so much better . . . that caramel sauce up close is killing me! Outstanding job here!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 2/13 at 1:09 pm

      Thank you!! Oh wow, I’m humbled that mine looks better than your mom’s, that’s top praise right there 🙂 I have to say that after I took these pics.. those bars were too tempting and I ate them… that caramel sauce was tempting me too much lol

      Reply
  17. Antionette Blake says

    Posted on 2/12 at 11:18 pm

    Oh my, I did not need to see this at almost midnight…now I want something sweet! #ThursdayFavoriteThings

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 2/13 at 8:34 am

      Lol, yeah they are craving inducing, that’s for sure 🙂

      Reply
  18. Kim@The Baking ChocolaTess says

    Posted on 2/12 at 9:24 pm

    Whoa those look so amazing oozing with caramel and chocolate. And I have to agree, they look dangerous, dangerously good! Thanks for sharing. 😉

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 2/12 at 9:46 pm

      Thank you so much!! 😀 Ohhhh yes, dangerously good and addicting! It’s good that it only makes an 8×8 pan, because they make me want to eat them all lol

      Reply
  19. Nicole Neverman says

    Posted on 2/12 at 6:45 pm

    Oh wow!! What a delicious treat! I love all that gooey caramel! If you had a spare moment, I would be delighted if you’d drop this (and anything else you’d like to share) by at the #PureBlogLove anything goes link party! You can find me here: http://picnicnz.blogspot.co.nz/

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 2/12 at 9:44 pm

      Thank you!! It’s so decadent 😀 I stopped by, it’s definitely a great party! 😀

      Reply
  20. Pam@over50feeling40 says

    Posted on 2/12 at 11:39 am

    This looks dangerous…but oh so good! Thanks for sharing with the Thursday Blog Hop! Hope you can visit me http://www.over50feeling40.com. Have a great weekend!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 2/12 at 2:29 pm

      Thank you so much! I’ll be sure to stop by 🙂 Oh and yes, these are very dangerous 😉

      Reply
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