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Indulge in the delightful world of Carmelitas—an exquisite cookie bar that features layers of buttery oats, luscious caramel, and rich semisweet chocolate. These bars strike the perfect harmony between sweetness and texture, making them an irresistible treat for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Quick and Easy Carmelitas Recipe
Have you experienced the joy of Carmelitas? They are among the most delectable cookie bars you’ll ever taste! This delightful dessert consists of layers filled with caramel, chocolate, and oats. The name “Carmelitas” is derived from “caramel,” highlighting its key ingredient.
Thanks to their simplicity and scrumptiousness, Carmelitas have become our family’s favorite choice for potlucks, parties, and gatherings. They’re incredibly easy to whip up; once you take a bite, you’ll find it hard to resist going back for more! Be warned: it’s wise to double your batch because they tend to vanish quickly!
Ingredients for Carmelitas
These bars combine rich flavors that will satisfy your cravings perfectly. With just a few basic ingredients at hand, you can create an impressive dessert that will wow your family and friends. For precise measurements, refer to the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Caramel: Opt for individually wrapped caramel squares; remember to unwrap them before melting.
- Heavy Cream: This adds richness and creaminess to your caramel sauce.
- Butter: Unsalted butter works best in this recipe.
- Brown Sugar: Make sure to pack it tightly when measuring.
- Flour: This serves as the base for your cookie bars.
- Rolled Oats: I recommend using rolled oats instead of quick oats for better texture.
- Baking Soda: This helps give rise to the crust.
- Semisweet Chocolate Chips: These provide a balanced flavor without being overly sweet.
How To Prepare Carmelitas
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Preheat Oven: Set your oven temperature to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easier removal later on.
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Prepare Caramel Filling: In a mixing bowl, blend melted butter with brown sugar until smooth. Add flour, rolled oats, and baking soda; mix until well combined.
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Bake Crust: Divide the mixture in half; press one half into the bottom of your prepared pan evenly. Bake in preheated oven for about 10 minutes before removing it.
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Melt Caramels: While crust is baking, melt caramels together with heavy cream until smooth—this can be done on stovetop or microwave (stir every 30 seconds).
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Layer Ingredients: Once crust is baked briefly remove from oven; sprinkle chocolate chips over it followed by pouring melted caramel mixture on top then crumble remaining dough over everything.
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Final Bake: Return pan back into oven; bake again for another 15–20 minutes until edges turn lightly golden brown.
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Cool Before Serving: Allow cooling completely before cutting into squares so that caramel sets properly—it will be molten right out of oven! If you’re short on time you can place them in fridge briefly after removing from heat.
Tips & Variations
These easy-to-make Carmelitas are not only delicious but also offer room for creativity:
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Use high-quality caramels like Werther’s Originals if possible!
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For thinner crusts try using a larger (9×9) baking dish without altering ingredient amounts!
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Feel free experiment with different types of chocolate chips—milk chocolate works great too!
- Lining pans with parchment paper makes cleanup much simpler due sticky nature these treats!
- Always let cool completely prior cutting into squares ensures neat slices!
Storing Leftovers
While I can’t guarantee leftovers last long around here since they’re usually devoured quickly! However if by chance some remain:
1) Store In Refrigerator – After cooling down place them inside airtight container where they’ll stay fresh up-to week!
2) Freeze For Later Enjoyment – Layer pieces between sheets parchment paper within ziplock bag/airtight container freeze up-to month!
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Nutritional Information
Calories per serving: Approximately 653 kcal
Carbohydrates: 81 g
Protein: 7 g
Fat: 35 g
Saturated Fat: 20 g
Cholesterol :70 mg
Sodium :401 mg
Potassium :303 mg
Fiber :3g
Sugar :54g
Note: Nutrition values are estimated based on standard calculations.
About Alyssa Rivers
Alyssa Rivers is not only an accomplished food photographer but also author behind ‘The Tried-and-Tested Cookbook’. Her passion shines through her recipes which have been featured across platforms like Good Morning America & Buzzfeed among others.
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