Caramelitas

Caramelitas. These beautiful, gooey bars of perfection aren’t just any dessert — they’re like a little bite of happiness that somehow found its way into our chaotic little household. Imagine layers of oatmeal, chocolate, and caramel snuggled together to make a treat that’ll have you sneaking into the kitchen at midnight. I swear, these bars are magic. And if you don’t believe in magic, try one, and you might just change your mind.

So, picture this: My husband (bless his sweet tooth) came home one day babbling about some amazing caramel thing his coworker brought to work. Of course, I took that as a personal challenge because, let’s be honest, I won’t be outdone by some cubicle genius. I found this recipe, tweaked it to my taste (aka added more caramel), and now these Caramelitas are our go-to sweet treat. The kids love them, and yes, I’ve caught my grown-up significant other crumbling them over his breakfast yogurt. No judgment here.

Why You’ll Love This Caramelitas

– Basically a hug in dessert form — perfect when you need a little pick-me-up after a loooong day.
– Gooey caramel and chocolate — need I say more? It’s basically a food hug, and who doesn’t need more of those?
– Simple enough for even my scattered brain to whip up but fancy enough to impress anyone you wanna dazzle.

How to Make It

Alright, here we go, buddy! Grab your favorite little mixing bowl and let’s do this thing. First off, make sure your oven is nice and cozy at 350°F. Trust me, preheating is like foreplay for baking.

Now, mix up some oats, flour, and brown sugar like your life depends on it. It’s gonna look like a crumbly mess, but hang on in there. Shove half of that impressive mix into a pan. Pat it down like you mean it, but not too firm, okay? A gentle press, like sending a text to your crush: firm but relaxed.

Pop it into the oven for about 10 minutes while you take a fast dance break. Then, layer on that gooey caramel, chocolate chips, and the rest of the crumbly mess you lovingly patted down earlier. Bake again, let it hang out in the oven for 15–20 minutes until it feels just right. Cool it like a cucumber before slicing, unless you’re into caramel rivers flowing through your kitchen.

Ingredient Notes

– Oats: They’re bringing the wholesome vibes and keeping the carbs friendly. I once used quick oats — whoops, too much mush going on, so stick to old-fashioned.
– Caramel sauce: Don’t skimp. A lesser known fact, this little fella is the heart of our sweet operation. Substitute? Good luck.
– Chocolate chips: Throw in a few extra, nobody’s judging. The more goo, the more joy, right?

**Recipe Steps:**
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a bowl, mix oats, flour, and brown sugar to form a crumbly mixture.
3. Press half of the oat mixture into a baking pan.
4. Bake this base layer for 10 minutes.
5. Remove from oven; layer caramel sauce and chocolate chips on top.
6. Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the caramel and chocolate.
7. Bake again for about 15–20 minutes.
8. Let cool before slicing into bars.

What to Serve It With

These little squares of joy can stand alone, but pairing them with a strong cup of coffee or a scoop of vanilla ice cream… hooo-boy, it’s an experience. Just saying.

Tips & Mistakes

– Patience is key: Let them cool unless turning your countertop into a chocolatey slip-n-slide is on your bucket list.
– Use parchment paper beneath, trust me, it makes extraction way less intense.

Storage Tips

Okay, let’s talk leftovers. These Caramelitas hang out really well in an airtight container at room temp for a couple of days. But, stick ‘em in the fridge if you’re more of a week-long-slow-savor kind of person. Speaking from experience, sneaking one cold from the fridge at 6 AM might destroy inhibitions about dessert for breakfast.

Variations and Substitutions

Don’t have caramel sauce? You can do a quick melted butter and sugar mix — boils down to a makeshift sticky delight. Wanna get nutty? Toss some pecans in there. Or if your pantry’s running low, walnuts can step in too. Once, I even replaced the chocolate with leftover peanut butter chips — wild, but strangely heartwarming.

Frequently Asked Questions

Caramelitas

A rich and chewy bar loaded with chocolate chips, caramel, and nuts – perfect for satisfying any sweet tooth.

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Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Calories: 120kcal

Ingredients

 

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Main Ingredients

• ▢ 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1 cup packed brown sugar
• ▢ 0.5 cup unsalted butter melted
• ▢ 1 cup chocolate chips
• ▢ 0.5 cup chopped pecans optional
• ▢ 0.75 cup caramel sauce

Instructions

Preparation Steps

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the flour and brown sugar.
• Stir in the melted butter until mixture is crumbly.
• Press half of the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
• Spread caramel sauce evenly over the crust.
• Sprinkle chocolate chips and chopped pecans over the caramel layer.
• Crumble the remaining half of the mixture over the top.
• Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Let cool completely before cutting into bars.

Notes

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.