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Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Carmelitas Recipe

Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Carmelitas

Buttery oatmeal cookie layers surround semisweet chocolate chips and a rich caramel center in these chewy, crowd-pleasing dessert bars. The recipe makes about 24 bars in a 9 x 13-inch pan.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 24 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Oatmeal Bar Mixture
  • 2 cups All-purpose flour
  • 2 cups Quick-cooking oats
  • 1 1/2 cups Light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 teaspoon Baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 cup Unsalted butter, melted
Filling
  • 1 cup Semisweet chocolate chips
  • 3/4 cup Prepared caramel ice-cream topping
  • 3 tablespoons All-purpose flour, for thickening the caramel

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang to lift out the cooled bars.
  2. Stir together the 2 cups flour, quick-cooking oats, packed brown sugar, baking soda, and salt. Mix in the melted butter until the ingredients form a crumbly oat dough.
  3. Press approximately half of the oat mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared pan. Bake the bottom crust for 10 minutes.
  4. Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the warm crust. Stir the 3 tablespoons of flour into the caramel topping, then drizzle the thickened caramel over the chocolate chips.
  5. Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the caramel layer, distributing it as evenly as possible without pressing down hard. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 18–20 minutes, until the top is lightly browned and the caramel bubbles around the edges.
  6. Cool the bars completely for 1–2 hours before cutting. For especially neat slices, refrigerate the cooled pan briefly, then lift out the slab and cut it into about 24 bars.

Notes

Do not overbake; the center should remain soft because the bars firm as they cool. Store covered at room temperature or refrigerate briefly for firmer, cleaner slices.