Chocolate Caramel Oatmeal Squares or carmelitas are a soft, deliciously satisfying bar that are the perfect snack. They are truly addictive in the best possible way. Great for after school snacks, meetings or any time you want a real crowd pleasing treat.
These Chocolate Caramel Oatmeal Squares hit all the senses. You start with decadent chocolate, have the gratifying flavor of a butter oatmeal cookie, the sweet caramel sauce and finally the crunch from the pecans.
Was the first oatmeal bar created at MIT? Find out the story here.
- Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry.
- Family Friendly: everyone loves these tasty treats.
- Adaptable: Can make it lower in calorie.
- Makes Great Leftovers: These are great to serve any time.
What You Need to Make Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- quick or old-fashioned oats
- Flour
- brown sugar
- baking soda
- Butter
- butterscotch caramel sauce
- chopped pecans
- semi-sweet chocolate morsels
Equipment
How to Make Chocolate Caramel Oatmeal Squares – Step by Step
- Prepare Oven: First, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13×9 pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Combine: Second, combine oats, 1 ½ cups flour, brown sugar and baking soda in mixing bowl.
- Butter: Then add butter and mix until crumbly. Reserve 1 cup of the crumb mixture and then press remaining crumb mixture onto bottom of pan. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Next Layer: Next, combine ice cream topping and remaining ¼ cup flour in bowl, whisk until smooth. Drizzle over bottom of crust and spread to edges.
- Top Layer: Finally, combine pecans and reserved crumb mixture and then sprinkle mixture and chocolate morsels evenly over caramel mixture.
- Bake: Lastly, bake 15-18 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Cool completely and cut into bars.
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Common Questions About Chocolate Caramel Oatmeal Squares
Store cooled squares in an airtight container in a cool, dark space for 5 to 7 days. You can let them sit out to room temperature to serve. I think they taste best that way.
Indeed, these Chocolate Caramel Oatmeal Squares can be made with any nut that you prefer.
Of course, these are great for get togethers so you can increase this recipe or 1/2 and make in an 9X9 pan.
Definitely, wrap the bars in snack bags or parchment and then store in a zip to freezer bag and pull them out as you need them. They should last well for two months.
Sure, try not to stack until cooled they are great after they have cooled down, so make them ahead of time.
Expert Tips for Making Carmelitas
- Add Different Chips: Mix the chocolate chips with butterscotch chips.
- Peanut Butter: A peanut butter version with peanut butter chips and peanut butter sauce. They are scrumptious.
- Variation tip: Feel free to add make your own caramel sauce.
- Dietary consideration tip: Try using a low calorie brown sugar, caramel sauce and sugar free chips to make a low calorie version of this dish.
- Decorate: Lovely just the way they are, however, if you are going to a fancier event, make these and decorate with mini M&M’s or drizzle chocolate or caramel or both on top to perfect them.
- Hint: Use parchment to line pan and run a knife along the sides when squares are done cooking for easier release.
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If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it in the comment section below.
CHOCOLATE CARAMEL OATMEAL SQUARES
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups quick or old-fashioned oats
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, divided
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup butter, melted
- 1 cup butterscotch caramel ice cream topping
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- 16 ounces semi-sweet chocolate morsels
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13×9 pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Combine oats, 1 ½ cups flour, brown sugar and baking soda in mixing bowl. Add butter and mix until crumbly. Reserve 1 cup of the crumb mixture.
- Press remaining crumb mixture onto bottom of pan.
- Bake for 15 minutes.
- Combine ice cream topping and remaining ¼ cup flour in bowl, whisk until smooth.
- Drizzle over bottom of crust and spread to edges.
- Combine pecans and reserved crumb mixture. Sprinkle mixture and chocolate morsels evenly over caramel mixture.
- Bake 15-18 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
- Cool completely and cut into bars.
Expert Tips
- Add Different Chips: Mix the chocolate chips with butterscotch chips.
- Peanut Butter: A peanut butter version with peanut butter chips and peanut butter sauce. They are scrumptious.
- Variation tip: Feel free to add make your own caramel sauce.
- Dietary consideration tip: Try using a low calorie brown sugar, caramel sauce and sugar free chips to make a low calorie version of this dish.
- Decorate: These are lovely just the way they are, however, if you are going to a fancier event, make these and decorate with mini M&M’s or drizzle chocolate or caramel or both on top to perfect them.
- Hint: Use parchment to line pan and run a knife along the sides when squares are done cooking for easier release.
Estimated Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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I’m not sure what I did wrong. I left the carmel sauce off, too much sugar! I baked for 20 minutes and they are just crumbs when I try to take out of pan
I am so sorry to hear this, usually this happens if the bar does not have enough liquid to keep it moist or if it was baked to long.
Yum! These look very similar to a family favorite, Magic Layer Bars. Looking forward to trying this butterscotch version.
We made these for a holiday cookie exchange. They were delicious!
This tasted so amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy to make chocolate caramel oatmeal squares recipe! Fam really loves it! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!
They do sound decadent, but I bet that’s why they’re good. 🙂
These look delicious! Love a hearty oat bar! THanks!