Decadent Caramelitas
Step into dessert paradise with our Decadent Caramelitas, the perfect union of buttery oats, rich caramel, and velvety chocolate.
Ingredients
- 1 cup 226g unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cups 180g old-fashioned rolled oats
- 2 cups 250g all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups 330g packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup 175g semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup 240ml caramel sauce, store-bought or homemade
- 1/4 cup 30g chopped nuts, optional for added crunch
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to a warm 350°F (175°C) while you butter up a 9x13-inch baking pan for non-stick bliss.
- In a spacious bowl, whisk together the heartwarming melted butter, oats, flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and vanilla to form a crumbly yet cohesive mixture.
- Firmly press half of this fragrant oat mixture into your prepared pan, laying the groundwork for what’s to come. Give it a quick bake for about 10 minutes until just set.
- Sprinkle the chocolate chips and optional nuts over this pre-baked base, then lavish it with the golden caramel sauce. This is the layer that crowns the caramelitas with its sticky sweetness.
- Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the caramel, covering it like a blanket of crumbly goodness.
- Bake for another 15-20 minutes, until the edges are a toasty golden hue, and the center bubbles with caramel joy.
- Patience, now—let the pan cool completely. This pause is crucial; it’s what turns a pan of baked ingredients into firm, sliceable bars of heaven.
Notes
Quality matters: choose a caramel sauce that's thick enough to hold up in the heat and a chocolate that melts into a pool of luxury. And when it comes to cutting, a clean, sharp knife will do the trick, creating squares so perfect, they’re almost too good to eat. Almost.
With a pan of Caramelitas cooling on the rack, you're not just making a dessert—you're crafting memories. These oatmeal caramel bars are a testament to the simple pleasure of baking and the sweet reward that follows. They're a nod to tradition, a treat for today, and always, a promise of delicious things to come.
