Chocolate Caramel Oatmeal Squares

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5 from 10 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 40 minutes

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.

A Chocolate Caramel Oatmeal Square in close up.

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.
Oatmeal Squares cut out on parchment paper.

What You Need to Make Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients

Ingredients to make oatmeal square
Ingredients for topping for the chocolate Caramel Oatmeal Square.

Equipment

How to Make Chocolate Caramel Oatmeal Squares – Step by Step

Dry ingredients on a bowl, then mixed and finally pressed into pan
  • 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.
Ingredients to make topping applied to square ready to bake.
  • 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

HOW DO I STORE ?

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.

CAN I SUBSTITUTE WALNUTS IN PLACE OF PECANS?

Indeed, these Chocolate Caramel Oatmeal Squares can be made with any nut that you prefer.

SQUARE RECIPE BE DOUBLED OR HALVED?

Of course, these are great for get togethers so you can increase this recipe or 1/2 and make in an 9X9 pan.

FROZEN?

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.

MAKE AHEAD OF TIME?

Sure, try not to stack until cooled they are great after they have cooled down, so make them ahead of time.

Close up on a chocolate oatmeal square.

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.

⭐⭐⭐ RATE THIS RECIPE ⭐⭐⭐

If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it in the comment section below.

Close up on a chocolate oatmeal square.
5 from 10 votes

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL OATMEAL SQUARES

Yield: 48 servings
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
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.
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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!

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

Calories: 151kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 75mg | Potassium: 85mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 128IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
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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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

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7 thoughts on “Chocolate Caramel Oatmeal Squares”

  1. 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

    Reply
    • 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.

      Reply
  2. 5 stars
    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!

    Reply

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