Indulge in the ultimate treat! These homemade Carmelita bars feature a luscious blend of gooey caramel and rich chocolate, perfectly sandwiched between two layers of wholesome oatmeal crust. You’ll be amazed at how simple they are to create, yet deliver such an irresistibly decadent experience.
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If you’re a devoted fan of Carmelitas and crave that perfect balance of sweet and chewy, you’ll also adore these Classic 7 Layer Bars for another fantastic dessert bar option!
Are you, like me, perpetually on the hunt for that show-stopping dessert that guarantees smiles and empty plates at any gathering or potluck? Look no further than these Easy Carmelitas. These delightful cookie bars consistently steal the show and are often the very first treat to disappear from the dessert table. Why? Because who among us can truly resist the harmonious marriage of soft, buttery oatmeal, melted chocolate, and irresistibly gooey caramel? They offer a symphony of textures and flavors that captivates every palate.
What Are Carmelitas?
Carmelitas are a classic American dessert bar, cherished for their indulgent layers and straightforward preparation. At their heart, they consist of a rich, crumbly oatmeal cookie base and topping, encasing a generous filling of melted chocolate chips and a thick, sweet caramel. The magic happens when these components bake together, creating a bar that’s delightfully chewy, wonderfully gooey, and packed with flavor. Often mistaken for other bar cookies, Carmelitas stand out with their distinctive oatmeal crust and the irresistible combination of caramel and chocolate.
While the exact origin story of Carmelitas might be a bit hazy, they gained significant popularity through community cookbooks, bake sales, and family recipes across America. They belong to a beloved category of desserts known as “bar cookies,” which are typically baked in a rectangular pan and then cut into individual portions, making them ideal for sharing. Their universal appeal lies in their simplicity and the comforting, familiar taste that evokes warmth and nostalgia.
Why This Easy Carmelita Recipe Stands Out
While there are countless Carmelita recipes available, this particular version earns its place as a favorite due to its remarkable ease and consistent results. Many recipes call for homemade caramel, which can be time-consuming and sometimes tricky to perfect. This recipe smartly incorporates a brilliant shortcut: jarred caramel ice cream topping. This simple swap significantly reduces prep time without compromising on flavor or that signature gooey texture we all love. It’s proof that sometimes, the easiest path leads to the most delicious outcome.
Beyond the time-saving caramel, the crust is designed for dual purpose, acting as both the sturdy base and the delightful crumbly topping. This ingenious approach streamlines the baking process, ensuring perfect layers with minimal effort. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out, you’ll find this recipe incredibly approachable, allowing you to achieve bakery-quality results in your own kitchen with confidence.
How to Make Carmelitas: A Detailed Guide
Creating these irresistible Carmelita bars is a straightforward process, broken down into a few simple stages. The key to success lies in understanding each step and how the components come together to form this harmonious dessert. Let’s walk through the basic steps to ensure your Carmelitas turn out perfectly gooey and utterly delicious.
The Oatmeal Crust and Crumble Topping
One of the brilliant aspects of these Carmelitas is that the same delicious oatmeal mixture serves a dual purpose: it forms both the sturdy, chewy bottom crust and the delightful, crumbly topping. This not only simplifies the ingredient list but also ensures a cohesive flavor profile throughout the bar.
To begin, gather all your crust ingredients: all-purpose flour, quick-cooking oats, packed brown sugar, softened unsalted butter, baking soda, and a pinch of salt. Combine these ingredients in the bowl of your stand mixer. If you don’t own a stand mixer, a large mixing bowl and a sturdy spatula or your hands will work just as well, though it might require a bit more effort and time to achieve the desired texture. Mix on low speed until the ingredients are thoroughly combined and the mixture takes on a crumbly appearance. You want visible clumps and a texture that resembles coarse sand with some larger pea-sized pieces.
Once your crumb mixture is ready, carefully measure out approximately 3 cups and set this portion aside. This reserved mixture will form the top layer of your Carmelitas. The remaining mixture is then pressed evenly and firmly into the bottom of your prepared 9×13-inch baking dish. For best results, ensure your baking dish is either thoroughly greased or, ideally, lined with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. This parchment “sling” makes removing and cutting the cooled bars incredibly easy. This crust will then undergo a partial bake, providing a solid foundation for the gooey filling.
The Gooey Caramel and Chocolate Filling
The filling is where these Carmelitas truly shine, and a clever shortcut makes it surprisingly simple. Many traditional recipes for similar bars require a homemade caramel sauce, which can be intimidating for some bakers. This recipe, however, embraces efficiency without sacrificing flavor or texture, by utilizing ready-made jarred caramel ice cream topping. While I’m a firm believer in homemade when feasible, this is one instance where a high-quality store-bought option is not only valid but highly recommended for convenience and consistent results.
To prepare the filling, simply take your jarred caramel ice cream topping and stir in 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour. The flour is crucial here, as it acts as a thickening agent, preventing the caramel from becoming too runny during baking and ensuring it sets into that wonderfully gooey consistency that defines a perfect Carmelita. Mix until the flour is completely incorporated and the caramel is smooth.
Once your oatmeal crust has completed its initial partial bake and is slightly cooled, remove it from the oven. Evenly sprinkle a generous cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips over the warm crust. The residual heat from the crust will begin to slightly melt the chocolate, preparing it for the next layer. Next, carefully drizzle the flour-thickened caramel mixture over the chocolate chips, spreading it as evenly as possible. Finally, take the 3 cups of reserved crumb mixture and sprinkle it uniformly over the caramel layer. This forms the signature oatmeal topping.
Return the pan to the oven for a second bake. Continue baking until the top layer is beautifully golden brown and the caramel underneath is bubbly and set. This typically takes an additional 18-22 minutes. Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and prepare for the most challenging part: patience! These bars need ample cooling time to properly set, ensuring that the caramel is perfectly gooey and not runny when cut.
Expert Tips for Making These Cookie Bars
- **Parchment Paper is Your Best Friend:** I cannot stress enough the importance of lining your baking pan with parchment paper. Leaving a slight overhang on the sides creates convenient “handles” that allow you to easily lift the entire slab of cooled Carmelitas out of the pan. This prevents sticking and makes slicing them into neat, uniform bars a breeze, saving you from frustration and ensuring beautiful presentation.
- **Patience is a Virtue: Cooling Time is Crucial:** While these bars don’t demand a lot of hands-on prep, they absolutely require a generous amount of cooling time to achieve their ideal texture. After removing them from the oven, let them cool at room temperature for at least an hour. This initial cooling allows the crust to firm up and the filling to begin setting. Following this, transfer them to the refrigerator for an additional 1-2 hours, or until the caramel is completely set and firm. Attempting to cut them too soon will result in a messy, gooey (albeit still delicious!) outcome. The caramel needs time to solidify for clean cuts.
- **Serving Temperature Matters:** I personally find that these Carmelitas taste best when they’ve come to room temperature after refrigeration. The caramel becomes perfectly soft and chewy, and the chocolate is slightly yielding. However, if you prefer a firmer, chewier bar, they are equally delightful served straight from the fridge. Experiment to find your preferred serving temperature!
- **Storage:** Store any leftover Carmelitas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. For longer storage, you can freeze individual bars wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and then placed in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature before serving.
- **Customization Options:** Feel free to get creative with your Carmelitas!
- **Chocolate:** Swap semi-sweet chocolate chips for milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even white chocolate chips for a different flavor profile.
- **Nuts:** For an added crunch, sprinkle chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds over the caramel layer before adding the final crumb topping.
- **Sea Salt:** A sprinkle of flaky sea salt over the finished bars (either before or after cooling) can enhance the caramel and chocolate flavors beautifully, creating a popular “salted caramel” effect.
- **Troubleshooting:** If your caramel seems too thin, ensure you’ve properly incorporated the flour. If it still appears very runny after baking, it might need more chilling time. Sometimes, a thicker caramel topping will require a slightly longer refrigeration period.
More Irresistible Cookie Bar Recipes
If you love the convenience and deliciousness of bar cookies, be sure to explore these other fantastic recipes:
Oatmeal Fudge Bars
Lunch Lady Bars
Caramel Brownies
Caramel Snickerdoodle Bars
Peaches and Cream Bars
Peanut Mallow Bars
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Easy Carmelitas
Deborah Harroun
15 minutes
30 minutes
2 hours
2 hours
45 minutes
36
bars
Dessert
American
Pin
Ingredients
Crust:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups quick cooking oats
- 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
- 1 1/4 cups unsalted butter softened
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoons salt
Filling:
- 12.25 oz jar caramel ice cream topping
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF (175°C).
- Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the longer sides to create a “sling.” Alternatively, spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a large bowl by hand), combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, softened butter, baking soda, and salt. Mix at low speed until the mixture is crumbly and well combined.
- Reserve 3 cups of the crumb mixture for the topping. Press the remaining mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes until lightly golden.
- While the crust is baking, prepare the caramel filling. In a separate small bowl, combine the jarred caramel ice cream topping and 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour. Stir until the mixture is completely smooth and the flour is fully incorporated, which will help thicken the caramel.
- Once the crust has baked for 10 minutes, carefully remove it from the oven. Evenly sprinkle the chocolate chips over the hot, partially baked crust. Next, carefully drizzle the flour-thickened caramel mixture over the chocolate chips, spreading it gently if needed. Finally, sprinkle the reserved 3 cups of crumb mixture evenly over the caramel layer to form the top crust.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 18-22 minutes, or until the top crumb layer is golden brown and the caramel is bubbly. Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature for at least 1 hour. Then, transfer the pan to the refrigerator to chill for 1 to 2 hours, or until the caramel filling is fully set.
- Once thoroughly chilled and set, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the entire slab of Carmelitas from the pan. Place on a cutting board and cut into 36 individual bars (or your preferred size). Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should only be used as a general guideline.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 2016kcal (101%),
Carbohydrates: 31g (10%),
Protein: 1g (2%),
Fat: 9g (14%),
Saturated Fat: 5g (31%),
Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g,
Trans Fat: 0g,
Cholesterol: 17mg (6%),
Sodium: 108mg (5%),
Fiber: 1g (4%),
Sugar: 21g (23%)
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