“ALWAYS the best treat on the dessert table. Folks seem to think I’m some kind of master baker for making these…”

These Caramelitas are a delightful treat combining a chewy oat crust, gooey caramel filling, melted chocolate chips, and a crumbly oat topping. They’re a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and chewy textures, making them an irresistible dessert.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8 inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. Melt the caramels: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the baking caramels and heavy cream. Cook, stirring constantly, until the caramels are completely melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and set aside.
3. Make the crust and topping mixture: In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter, all-purpose flour, old-fashioned oats, brown sugar, and baking soda until all the ingredients are fully combined and the mixture is crumbly.
4. Press the bottom crust: Press half of the oat mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, forming an even layer.
5. Bake the crust: Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven.
6. Add chocolate and caramel: Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the partially baked crust. Then, pour the melted caramel mixture evenly over the chocolate chips.
7. Add the oat topping: Sprinkle the remaining half of the oat mixture evenly over the caramel layer.
8. Final bake: Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for an additional 18-20 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the caramel is bubbly.
9. Cool completely: Remove the Caramelitas from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the baking dish before slicing. This is essential for the caramel to set properly and prevent the bars from being too messy.
10. Slice and serve: Once fully cooled, slice the Caramelitas into squares or rectangles and serve. Enjoy these gooey and delicious bars!