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Caramel lovers, this cookie bar recipe is for you! Imagine sinking your teeth into this carmelitas recipe; think sweet, gooey caramel and chocolate sandwiched between two layers of decadent oatmeal cookie dough. Rich and buttery with an oatmeal base topped with creamy caramel, melted sweet chocolate and topped with a second layer of oatmeal cookie. This carmelita bar recipe is a gorgeous dessert that is easy to make, perfect for gatherings or potluck. They are incredibly addictive – don’t say I didn’t warn you.
This is the best carmelitas recipe. It is outrageously delicious and so easy to make, delivering rich, buttery, caramel-loaded bars.
If you love these carmelitas, try some of these caramel recipes. Check out caramel apple cheesecakes or these caramel-filled chocolate cookies.
Why You’ll Love It
Customizable: You can easily adapt the recipe to include your favorite mix-ins, like nuts, coconut flakes, or different types of chocolate.
Make-ahead friendly: Carmelitas store well in the freezer, making them a great make-ahead dessert that you can prepare in advance.
Crowd-pleaser: Their rich, indulgent flavor and satisfying texture make carmelitas a hit with kids and adults.
Easy to make: These carmelita bars are surprisingly simple to prepare – no need for loads of ingredients like baking soda and other add-ins, just a couple of basics and you’re there.
Carmelitas Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Old fashioned oats: Adds texture and a chewy element to the bars. They help create a hearty, rustic feel.
Unsalted butter: Contributes richness and moisture; it should be at room temperature to blend easily with the sugars. Don’t use melted butter, it should be just softened.
Brown sugar: Sweetens the bars with its rich caramel flavor.
Soft caramels: For the gooey, chewy layer of caramel in the middle of the bars.
Milk: Helps melt and smooth out the caramels. This makes them easier to spread and blend into the bars.
Semisweet chocolate chips: These add a rich, chocolatey flavor and a little extra sweetness.
How to Make Carmelitas
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Prepare the oatmeal mixture: Combine the flour, oats, butter, brown sugar, vanilla and salt. Press half of the oatmeal mixture into the bottom the prepared pan and bake.
Make the caramel mixture: Melt the caramels with the milk until the mixture is smooth. Pour the caramel over the oatmeal crust and sprinkle chocolate chips on top.
Bake: Top with the remaining oatmeal mixture and bake until lightly browned.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten free flour swap: Try a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend instead (this one works perfectly!)
Old fashioned oats: You can try quick cooking oats but they deliver a finer texture. Rolled oats work well too. Don’t use instant oats for this recipe.
Butter: Swap for coconut oil or margarine.
Brown sugar: Try the recipe with white sugar or maple syrup as the sweetener. You could also use light brown sugar.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Make this recipe with white or milk chocolate chips. Dark chocolate chips are great too.
Nutty carmelitas: Add chopped nuts like pecans, walnuts or almonds for added crunch and flavor.
Fruit-flavored: Add dried fruit like cranberries or raisins into the oat mixture. So good!
Sea salt: Sprinkle sea salt on top of the caramel layer before adding the chocolate chips for salted caramel vibes.
Peanut butter: Swirl in a layer of peanut butter with the caramel for a rich, nutty flavor.
Coffee carmelitas: Mix in a tablespoon of instant coffee granules with the chocolate chips for a mocha flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizer: Kick off with Italian tuna potato salad or slow cooker jalapeno poppers. Another great start are these easy sheet pan crab legs.
Main: Enjoy slow cooker beef and noodles or a dreamy portion of Instant Pot lemony chicken pasta.
Dessert: End with a plate of these cozy carmelitas bars – add a scoop of caramel ice cream topping for a full dessert.
How to Store Carmelita Bars
Store: Keep leftovers, covered in the fridge for up to 5 days or on the counter for 3 days.
Freezer: You can freeze this recipe for up to 3 months. I prefer to slice them prior to freezing to make life easier but the whole thing can also be frozen whole in the pan. Simply place in an airtight container or cover with tin foil before covering the tin foil with plastic wrap.
Thaw: Remove the carmelitas from the freezer and let them thaw at room temperature for one to two hours, or until they are no longer frozen.
Reheat: Preheat your oven to 300°F and warm the carmelitas on a baking sheet for 5 to 10 minutes, or until they are heated through and the caramel is soft.
Top Tips
Use high quality ingredients: Choose high quality butter, chocolate, and caramel.
Line the pan: Line your baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang. This makes it easier to lift the carmelitas out of the pan and cut them into neat squares.
Cool completely: Allow the carmelitas to cool completely before cutting. This helps them hold their shape and makes slicing easier.
Even layering: Spread each layer (oat mixture, caramel, chocolate chips) evenly.
Soft caramel: For a softer caramel layer, use regular or salted caramel sauce or melt soft caramels with a bit of cream instead of using hard caramel candies.
Carmelita Cookie Bar FAQs
Let the carmelitas cool completely before cutting, and use a sharp knife. Chilling them slightly in the refrigerator can also help achieve cleaner cuts.
Yes, you can substitute regular oats with gluten-free oats to make the recipe gluten-free. Just ensure all other ingredients used are also gluten-free. Oats are naturally gluten-free but if they’re not certified as so they might have come into contact with gluten during production.
Using parchment paper is recommended as it makes it easier to remove the carmelitas from the pan and helps prevent sticking.
Yes, you can use homemade caramel. Just make sure it has a soft consistency to create a gooey layer in the carmelitas.
Carmelitas Recipe
Carmelitas
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Cups all purpose flour
- 2 Cups old fashioned oats
- 1½ Cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1½ Cups brown sugar, packed
- 2 Teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ Teaspoon salt
- 1 Cup soft caramels
- ¼ Cup milk
- 1 Cup semisweet chocolate chips
- cooking spray, as needed
Instructions
- Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Line the bottom and sides of the pan with parchment paper. The cooking spray will help the paper to adhere to the sides and bottom. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the flour, old fashioned oats, butter, brown sugar, vanilla and salt. The mixture will be buttery and crumbly when you are done
- Press half of the oatmeal mixture into the bottom of your prepared pan. Set aside the remainder for now. Bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and cool for 7 to 10 minutes.
- In a small saucepan, melt the caramels with the milk over a low heat. Stir continuously until the caramels have fully melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Pour the caramel over the baked crust and use a spatula to smooth it out evenly.
- Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the caramel sauce.
- Top with the remaining oat mixture. Bake for an additional 25 minutes or until the caramel is bubbling around the edges of the pan and the top has browned.
- Cool in the pan until it is room temperature before slicing and serving.
Notes
Line the pan: Line your baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang. This makes it easier to lift the carmelitas out of the pan and cut them into neat squares.
Cool completely: Allow the carmelitas to cool completely before cutting. This helps them hold their shape and makes slicing easier.
Even layering: Spread each layer (oat mixture, caramel, chocolate chips) evenly.
Soft caramel: For a softer caramel layer, use regular or salted caramel sauce or melt soft caramels with a bit of cream instead of using hard caramel candies.
Nutrition
This is honestly a delightful carmelitas recipe. Picture sweet, gooey caramel and luscious chocolate nestled between two layers of sumptuous oatmeal cookie dough. This dessert has a rich oatmeal base, smothered in creamy caramel, with a layer of melted chocolate, all crowned with a final layer of oatmeal cookie. It’s a show-stopping sweet treat that’s incredibly simple to make.
Other Sweet Treat Recipes to Try
- Make these cute and tasty little salted caramel snickerdoodles for an easy treats.
- You’ve to try caramel pretzel bark with apples too – ah man, this recipe is so good.
- Make golden brown monkey bread with the perfect cracking crunch.
- Try this huge cinnamon roll cake with the most incredible butterscotch sauce glaze.
- This salted butterscotch cocktail is next-level delicious.
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
These carmelitas are dangerously addictive! The gooey caramel and chocolate combo is unreal.