Description
Chocolate caramelitas bring together rich layers of buttery oats, melted chocolate, and silky caramel in one irresistible dessert. Midwestern bakers have perfected this sweet treat that combines simple ingredients into a mouthwatering bar you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (225 g/8 oz) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 ½ cups (190 g/6.7 oz) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups (120 g/4.2 oz) old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup (200 g/7 oz) packed brown sugar
- 1 ½ cups (265 g/9.3 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup (300 g/10.6 oz) caramel sauce or dulce de leche
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsps (45 ml/1.5 fl oz) heavy cream
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup (75 g/2.6 oz) chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking pan with parchment paper, allowing overhang for easy removal.
- Crust Formation: Press two-thirds of the oat mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared pan, creating a solid foundation for the dessert.
- Initial Baking: Bake the crust for 10 minutes until it develops a light golden color, establishing a crisp base for the subsequent layers.
- Chocolate and Caramel Layer: Distribute chocolate chips evenly across the partially baked crust, then drizzle caramel sauce to cover the entire chocolate surface, ensuring complete and consistent coverage.
- Topping Application: Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture delicately over the caramel and chocolate layer, creating a rustic, textured top.
- Final Baking: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes until the top achieves a golden-brown complexion and the layers meld together.
- Cooling and Setting: Allow the caramelitas to cool completely in the pan, enabling the layers to set and flavors to harmonize.
- Serving Preparation: Lift the entire dessert from the pan using the parchment paper overhang and transfer to a cutting surface.
- Portioning: Slice into precise squares, revealing the intricate layers of oats, chocolate, and caramel, ready to be enjoyed.
Notes
- Adjust Oat Mixture Consistency: Ensure the crumbly oat mixture is slightly damp and holds together when pressed, preventing a dry or crumbly final texture that might compromise the bar’s structure.
- Caramel Sauce Selection: Choose a thick, high-quality caramel sauce or homemade caramel to prevent excessive liquid seepage, maintaining the bars’ structural integrity and preventing soggy layers.
- Chocolate Chip Distribution: Spread chocolate chips evenly across the initial crust layer to guarantee consistent chocolate flavor in every bite, avoiding clumpy or sparse chocolate coverage.
- Cooling is Crucial: Allow caramelitas to cool completely at room temperature before cutting, enabling the layers to set properly and preventing messy, crumbling squares that fall apart when handled.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 15
- Calories: 325
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg