Carmelitas are a classic bar cookie that everyone needs in their cooking repertoire. A buttery oatmeal with layers of chocolate and gooey caramel that you won’t be able to stop eating!
The other day I was having a major chocolate and caramel craving. And no amount of water or healthy eating could satisfy the craving. So I caved and made a batch of Carmelitas. When I went to get the recipe I realized it wasn’t on the blog! How could such a cookie staple not be on my blog. Carmelitas are a recipe that any serious baker/cookie maker should have in their baking repertoire!
After I made the Carmelitas and had satisfied my chocolate and caramel craving, I quickly sent the rest of them over to the neighbors or else I would have eaten the entire pan myself!!
I have made Carmelitas for years and years. The original recipe I use came from my master cookie baking sister in law. She is always the one that brings the yummy baked goods to all the Wilkes family gatherings. And these are one of my favorites.
After I made them and had satisfied my chocolate and caramel craving I quickly sent the rest of the oatmeal carmelitas over to the neighbors or else I would have eaten the entire pan myself!!
How to Make Carmelitas
- Mix the oatmeal, flour, butter and sugar together until crumbly.
- Place half of the mixture into a 9 x 13 pan and bake for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees F.
Quick Oats vs Old Fashioned Oats
Old Fashioned Oats are whole rolled oats. Quick Oats are whole rolled oats that been processed or chopped into smaller pieces. This recipe calls for quick oats. Using Old Fashioned Oats will give you a chewier texture but also takes longer to cook.
- After baking, sprinkle crust with chocolate chips, I prefer milk chocolate chips but semi sweet works great too.
- Next, drizzle with caramel sauce or dulce de leche. My favorite brand of caramel sauce is the Mrs. Richardson’s Butterscotch Caramel. These bars will be even better though if you use your own homemade dulce de leche. It is so easy to make and my favorite way to make it is in my crockpot. You can find the easy step by step to perfect dulce de leche every time in your crockpot here.
- Then sprinkle the remaining half of the crumb mixture over the top and bake some more.
After they are baked allow them to cool a bit before cutting them if you can resist. They are easy to cut if you let them cool a bit but who can wait!
Next time you’ve got a chocolate/caramel craving bake up a batch of oatmeal carmelitas and you and everyone else will be happy campers!
Other favorite bar cookies:
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Carmelitas Recipe
Carmelitas
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cups quick oats
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/4 cups butter softened
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 1 cup milk chocolate chocolate chips
- 1 cup caramel ice cream topping or dulce de leche
Instructions
- Mix together flour, oatmeal, baking soda, salt, butter and brown sugar until it is crumbly.
- Press half of the mixture into the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan.
- Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips and drizzle with caramel sauce or dulce de leche..
- Top with the remaining crumb mixture.
- Bake for an additional 18 minutes.
Nutrition
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I’ve made carmelitas a couple of times, but love this recipe! I made these carmelitas for about 30 people last weekend and they were a huge success. I’ve had five people ask for the recipe already!
I will definitely be making them again! Thank you for sharing this recipe, Leigh Ann, so much!
Michael, Thank you so much! I am so glad you love the recipe too!! Glad everyone else loved them too.
We love these so much! I try not to make them too often. They are so easy and so good I have to make a half batch because I have no self control with these!
I just made these for Family Home Evening tonight, but was a little distracted and didn’t bake the bottom crust before layering with the chocolate chips and caramel…darn. I’m sure it will still taste amazing though, because it smells delicious! Thanks for posting this recipe 🙂
Nicole, Hope they turned out fine – let me know!
This is timely since I need to take sweet snacks to Monday’s staff meeting. Thanks for the reminder, I have this recipe too, but had forgotten about it.
PS- I love how your site “pooped” up for Melanie above. 🙂
Just a ? Is it really 1 and 1/4 cups of butter or 1 and 1/4 cubes?
Yep – it really is 1 1/4 Cups
I have need following your website for years. My children had left for college and I was feeling quite sad. I searched “empty nester” and your site pooped up. Today’s comments were exactly the way I was feeling. I needed something sweet and homemade. I have everything but the sauce! I look forward to your posts everyday. Keep up the good work!
Melanie
Melanie, This empty nest thing can be a challenge sometimes, can’t it! I hope you enjoy the Carmelitas as much as I did!