Carmelita’s

Carmelitas dessert bars are one of my favorite desserts, but I don’t make them very often. Let me explain.

There are some desserts that I do not make unless I have been asked to. Some desserts are so good that if I am left alone with a pan of it, by the end of the day I will have eaten myself sick!

Embarrassing I know. I wish it wasn’t true, but it is. Carmelitas is the perfect example.

I haven’t made them in a really long time because they are just too dangerous. Alyssa from The Recipe Critic should have included a “these are extremely addicting” warning with the recipe. The decadent chocolate and rich caramel sauce make this the absolute best dessert ever!

How to make Carmelitas

After preheating your oven and prepping your bakeware, grab your mixing bowls and start by mixing your melted butter and sugar. Don’t forget to line your bakeware with some aluminum or parchment paper. The melted caramel will be very sticky once it’s baked, so this will be really helpful for cleanup. 

In the bowl that you mixed the butter and sugar, add your dry ingredients: flour, oats, and baking soda. This is going to be the crust of your cookie bar. Once it’s all mixed, press it down into the bottom of your 8×8 pan. If you are doubling the recipe, press the cookie mixture down into the bottom of a 9×13 pan. 

Bake the cookie crust for 10 minutes and then remove it from the oven. 

While the cookie crust is baking, it’s time to work on the caramel sauce. Take your unwrapped caramel squares and heat over medium heat in a saucepan with heavy cream. Stir until this is completely smooth and set aside.

This step can also be completed in the microwave, just heat up the caramel and heavy cream for 30 seconds at a time, stirring when it stops. Watch it carefully and do not let the caramel burn. 

Building and baking your Carmelitas

At this point you have all of the parts of the Carmelitas ready, it’s time to put it all together! When the timer for your cookie crust goes off, take it out of the oven and sprinkle your chocolate chips over the whole thing. Very carefully pour your caramel sauce over the chocolate chips, and crumble the remaining cookie dough over it. 

Put it back in the oven and finish baking it for about 15-20 minutes. You will know that it is ready when the edges are lightly browned.

When you take it out of the oven, let it cool completely. Keep in mind that the caramel will be like molten lava at this point and can cause severe burns if touched right out of the oven. 

Carmelitas are a great dessert for events

I was asked to bring a dessert to a social function so I made these wonderful Carmelitas. I thought I was safe knowing I would take all of them to my social function, which meant I wouldn’t couldn’t eat too many. 

It’s a perfect option for making for events and potlucks since it’s so simple to make, and simple to make a lot of. And not to mention it’s simple to transport versus a bunch of cookies or a frosted cake or cupcakes. You will be the hit of any gathering you bring these delicious desserts to. 

To double the recipe for a big event, all you have to do is double the ingredients and use a 9×13 inch pan. 

Carmelitas can also be made gluten-free

My daughter wanted me to make a gluten-free batch as well so she and I could have some. We are the only 2 who are gluten-free in our family and having “some” translates into half a pan for each of us. I made these this morning, it is now late afternoon, I’m not feeling so well. (I’m hanging my head in shame!)

To make these gluten-free, use almond flour instead of all-purpose flour. As you can see above, this did not affect the deliciousness of this dessert. 

Please note that oatmeal is technically gluten-free, however, there is a chance that it is processed on shared equipment. Check the label to verify that your rolled oats are certified gluten-free if this is a concern. The other ingredients are also supposed to be gluten-free, but check your labels to be certain. 

Tips to make amazing Carmelitas

• You can add a pinch of salt to the oatmeal cookie crust to balance out the sweetness and make the flavors really pop. 
• The author of the recipe that I reference here recommends that you use high-quality caramel such as Worthiers Caramel candies. 
• You can use a larger pan to create a thinner crust. This can be a great way to get more slices of cookies out of one batch for parties and potlucks.
• Don’t forget to let the Carmelitas cool completely before diving in. I cannot stress enough how hot the caramel sauce gets when it’s in the oven, so please use caution when melting, pouring, and handling it. 
• You can use instant oats if that is all you have on hand. The author recommends rolled oats but does mention that instant oatmeal can also be used. 
• Store your Carmelitas in an airtight container. They can be stored in a cool space, although they will last longer if refrigerated. 
• You can even freeze your Carmelitas! After they have cooled, stack them in a freezer bag and store them for up to a month. Use smaller bags to create individual portions so you don’t have to defrost the entire thing when your sweet tooth hits. 

A delicious (and dangerous!) dessert

Yes, half of my half of the pan is now empty. It sounds better if I say 1/4 of the pan is empty. Either way, I have once again eaten too many Carmelitas.

This morning I needed every ounce of willpower to resist eating too many. As my teenagers would say… “epic fail”. This afternoon I needed some protein and a  5 – 10 mile walk! It really should be a run, but I only run in EXTREME emergencies. The protein is going to happen – I’m not so sure about the walk. If you are looking for an out-of-this-world,  fantastic dessert recipe, Carmelitas is for you because… This Pin Rocks!  

Carmelita's

Adapted by Made From Pinterest

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Desssert

Ingredients

  

• Ingredients
• 32 caramel squares unwrapped
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup butter melted
• ¾ cup brown sugar packed
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

 

• Preheat your oven to 350. Grease an 8×8 pan or you can line it with aluminum foil or parchment paper for easier removal. The caramel gets very sticky. (This can also be made in a 9×13, by doubling the ingredients)
• In a mixing bowl, combine melted butter and brown sugar. Add flour, oats, and baking soda. Mix until combined well.
• Divide the cookie mixture in half and pat half of the mix into the bottom of the 8×8 pan. Bake for 10 minutes and remove from oven.
• While the crust is baking, combine the caramels and heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat; stir until completely melted and smooth. The caramels can also be melted in the microwave, just stir after every 30 seconds being careful not to let it burn.
• Remove pan from the oven, immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over the crust. Pour warm melted caramel mixture over the chocolate chips and crumble remaining cookie dough on top.
• Return to oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the edges are lightly brown.
• Once removed from the oven, allow them to completely cool and the caramel to set up. The caramel is like molten caramel right out of the oven and you want to let it cool. You can speed up the cooling process by putting it in the fridge if needed.
• Gluten Free Version
• Use gluten free flour.
• Use certified gluten free oatmeal, can be found at Trader Joe's

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

If you loved this Carmelitas recipe from This Grandma Is Fun, be sure to check out these other delicious dessert recipes:

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