Caramelitas

How to make Caramelitas!

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If you've never had a Caramelita before, you're missing out! These decadent cookie bars are made with a slightly crisp oat cookie bar layer and are filled with melty, gooey caramel and chocolate!

Ingredients
3/4 cup unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled (170g)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (157g)
1 cup old fashioned oats (100g)
3/4 cup tightly packed light brown sugar (150g)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Filling
35 caramels unwrapped
1/2 cup heavy cream (115ml)
1 1/3 cups milk chocolate chips (225g)

Instructions
00:00 Introduction
Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line a 9x9 metal baking pan* with parchment paper -- use enough so that parchment paper hangs over the edges, this will make it easy to lift the bars out of the pan and cut them later on.

00:22 Melt your butter. Set aside to cool.

00:43 Prepare your dry ingredients by stirring together flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt until well-combined.

01:11 Add vanilla to your slightly cooled butter and stir until combined. Pour in to dry ingredients and stir together until combined.

01:29 Press half of your oat/butter mixture evenly and firmly into the bottom of your prepared 9x9 pan and transfer to your 350F (175C) oven to bake for 8-10 minutes (until just lightly golden).

02:39 Meanwhile, prepare your caramel filling by combining unwrapped caramels and heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir frequently until caramel is completely melted and mixture is smooth, then remove from heat.

03:03 Once your first layer of the Carmelita is finished baking, remove from the oven and sprinkle evenly with milk chocolate chips.
Pour caramel evenly over chocolate chips, and then scatter remaining oat mixture over the top of the caramel, you don't have to completely cover the caramel, gaps are OK. I like to gently press the oat mixture into the caramel but be careful not to touch the caramel as it's hot!

03:51 Return to 350F (175C) oven and bake for another 18-21 minutes or until top is golden brown.
Allow to cool completely, at least 1-2 hours, before removing from the pan and cutting and serving (if you dig in too soon you'll have a major mess on your hands, you need to allow some time for the caramel to re-set).

[EmorettaRobinson]

I just randomly clicked on a YouTube short for a channel that I'm not subscribed to where a woman said this is her husband's favorite dessert. And that she was surprising him by making these for him. I've never heard of them or had them before. But I was glad to see that you had a video for them. I'm gonna make these. Thank you for this.

[sharonboone]

A lady at work made this for us and they were so good so I made them myself.

[dondonlaughalot]

I haven’t been making these for years and every year I forget how to make them. Thank you so much for this recipe. You are very beautiful and very helpful. Thank you again.

[zlatinkaquinones]

I will definitely try them look so easy love easy thank you for sharing

[knightblossom]

HEAVEN!!! I LOVE Oatmeal cookies, especially with chocolate chips - this looks like it's going to be my all-time favorite!! How much salt would you add to the caramel to make it salted caramel sauce?

[kalayaquest]

I’ve followed all the steps but my dough is coming out very sticky and not crumbly. What am I doing wrong?

[jayjaymoo]

I let them cool for about 4 hours, and went to cut them but the caramel is still so gooey the parchment paper is sticking to it and it wont hold shape 😬 should I try sticking it in the fridge? Or do they need to bake longer?

[SnowWolfAlpha]

We don't have caramel squares in Australia, any ideas for a substitute?