These delicious Carmelitas are made with layers of oatmeal crust, chocolate chips, and creamy caramel sauce—the perfect combination of flavors.

I have a feeling this carmelita recipe is going to wow your family and friends. The bars are ooey-gooey with chocolate and caramel layers and the best soft oatmeal cookie crust—a dessert bar dream made into reality. I can’t wait for you to try them.

a stack of three bars.

Caramel goes well with anything, but these carmelitas are one of my family’s favorite ways to eat it. I mean, who can resist layers of chocolate and caramel?

This is mainly because we love oatmeal and chocolate, so having three of our favorite ingredients in one recipe will be a winner.

If you’ve never tried them, caramelitas are a dessert bar with a signature gooeyness that is so incredibly good. We love them warm with a big scoop of ice cream, but they pair equally well with a cold glass of milk.

This recipe is for you if you love oatmeal cookies, chocolate, and caramel. Not surprisingly, my kids give these rave reviews, primarily when I serve them with caramel sauce on the side for dunking.

You will give these carmelitas a rave review, too, I’m sure! They are seriously the best sweet treat to finish a meal.

overhead shot of the carmelitas.

Ingredients

  • Unwrapped caramel squares
  • Heavy cream
  • Coarse sea salt
  • Melted butter
  • Brown sugar
  • Flour
  • Rolled oats
  • Baking soda
  • Semisweet chocolate chips

How do you make Carmelitas?

Preheat oven to 350°F. This recipe makes an 8×8″ pan but you can double it and bake them in a 9×13″ pan.

Combine caramels and cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Add in coarse sea salt if desired. Stir until completely smooth and then set the pan set aside.

In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, flour, oats, and baking soda. Set aside a 1/2 cup of the mixture. Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of an 8″x8″ pan.

the bottom crust baked.

Bake oatmeal crust for 10 minutes and then take it out of the oven.

Sprinkle chocolate chips over crust.

the chocolate chips sprinkled over the top of the crust.

Pour caramel mixture on chocolate chips.

the caramel sauce being poured into the pan.

Spread the caramel into an even layer.

overhead shot of the caramel poured into the pan.

Crumble remaining oatmeal mixture on top.

Place the pan in the oven and bake the bars for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool completely before cutting.

overhead shot of he sliced bars.

Recipe Tips

This recipe works best with caramels that have been melted in cream. I haven’t tested it with homemade caramel sauce from scratch or store-bought sauce. You want a sauce that is thick and creamy and making it with the caramel squares works best.

Be sure to use rolled oats and not quick-cooking oats for this recipe. You need the rolled ones for the best texture.

If you’re pinched for time you can cool the bars in the refrigerator. They shouldn’t be served cold, but all of that molten caramel takes a long time to cool down. After they are cool, take them out and leave them at room temperature.

They should be stored and served at room temperature. Keep them in an airtight container and they should stay fresh for a few days.

close-up shot of one carmelita bar.

Every bite of these decadent bars is filled with chocolate and caramel! It pairs wonderfully with the oatmeal cookie crust to make the best carmelitas ever. Give them a try and you’ll see, everyone will love them!

Enjoy! XOXO San

More Dessert Bars

Love these treats? You need to try these recipes, too:

Don’t forget to pin this to your favorite Pinterest board to save for later!

carmelitas photo collage for pinterest.

Carmelitas

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Servings: 16
Calories: 312 kcal
These delicious Carmelitas are made with layers of oatmeal crust, chocolate chips, and creamy caramel sauce. The perfect combination of flavor.
a stack of three bars.

Ingredients
 

  • 32 caramel squares unwrapped
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt
  • 3/4 cup butter melted
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. This recipe makes an 8×8 pan; if you want to double the recipe you can use a 9×13 pan. Spray the pan with oil and line with parchment paper.
  • Combine caramels and cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until completely smooth, add sea salt, and set aside.
  • In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, flour, oats, and baking soda. Measure out 1/2 cup and set aside for later. Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of the 8"x8" pan
  • Bake oatmeal mixture for 10 minutes then remove from oven.
  • Sprinkle chocolate chips over crust. Pour caramel mixture on chocolate chips. Crumble remaining oatmeal mixture on top. 
  • Return to oven and bake an additional 15-20 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool completely before cutting.
  • *A stint in the fridge will help them cool if you’re pinched for time. They shouldn’t be served cold, but all of that molten caramel takes a long time to cool down. They should be stored and served at room temperature.
Calories: 312kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 3gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 235mgPotassium: 138mgFiber: 1gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 388IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 52mgIron: 1mg
a stack of three bars.
Tried this recipe?Let us know what you think!

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30 Comments

  1. Yum these sound good. I like rolled oats in desserts because I can always tell myself that makes it nutritious 🙂 Visit from Talking Tuesday.

  2. You really are a girl after my own heart. All of your recipes are hitting it out of the ball park with me! I am much more a caramel girl than a chocolate. Love this and pinning it also. It’s easy to see why you are a caterer. Lots of good recipes! I love to cook, but rarely post about it. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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