Oatmeal Chocolate Caramel Bars
Who doesn’t love a perfectly sweet and salty dessert? These simple yet decadent oatmeal chocolate caramel bars are just that and more.
Sweet.
Chewy.
Slightly salty.
Covered in buttery oats.
So yummy I could eat the whole pan.
Studded with chocolate.
Texturely perfect.
Decadent.
Simple.
One Year Ago: Lemon Cream Pasta with Chicken
Two Years Ago: Cinnamon Swirl Bread
Recipe Source: adapted slightly from my friend Judy C.
Oatmeal Chocolate Caramel Bars
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (213 g) flour
- 1 ½ cups (150 g) old-fashioned oats
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ cups (318 g) brown sugar
- 1 cup (227 g) melted butter
- 1 (14-ounce) bag (397 g) of caramels
- ½ cup whipping cream or milk
- 1 (12-ounce) package (340 g) semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degree. Mix the first six ingredients together and sprinkle half on the bottom of a 9X13-inch baking pan. Bake 10 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned.
- Meanwhile, melt the caramels and whipping cream or milk in a saucepan over low heat or in the microwave at 50% power, stirring often, until the mixture is smooth.
- When the bars have been removed from the oven, sprinkle the chocolate chips over the crust and pour the melted caramel over the top. Sprinkle the rest of the crust over the top and bake in the oven for an additional 10-12 minutes, until the caramel is bubbling and edges are lightly browned.
- Cool the bars completely before serving so they can set up properly.
Serving: 1 Bar, Calories: 330kcal, Carbohydrates: 43g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 29mg, Sodium: 163mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 29g
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I love these! I made them a few weeks ago and almost ate the whole pan myself. I posted it on my blog today and linked back here to your site. thanks for a great recipe!
Sara – I'm guessing that they probably needed to baked longer. They should definitely set up after cooling and the top oatmeal layer should be browned and while still a bit crumbly, it shouldn't be falling all over the place. I'm sorry they didn't work out for you!
I was really excited to try these. I made them today and now I'm wondering if I did something wrong because mine didn't really set up — the oatmeal mixture on top is really crumbly and when I try to cut them they just fall apart. still super tasty, just hard to eat … any suggestions for next time? :)p.s. i love your blog! i tried the cheddar broccoli soup too and loved it.
No kidding. Caramels should be a grocery store staple, akin to flour and sugar! But I have also had a tough time locating rhodes rolls here so nothing surprises me now.
Polliwog – I can't believe it was tough to find caramels but I'm sure glad you were able to lay your hands on them! Glad you liked them!
We made these for company last week and, though I had a heck of a time locating caramels in Cali (why?) it was worth the running around. Yummy! These are keepers. The only thing I might do differently next time is use a little less chocolate. I'm totally a chocolate girl at heart, but most bites I was wishing for the caramel to come through more. But that's just a matter of taste and, let's face it, they will be amazing either way.
Another wonderful dessert – looks delicious!
Lani – I'm impressed by your self-control in only making a half batch. Glad you enjoyed them!
Melissa – thanks for letting me know these turned out!Becky – same goes for you…glad these were a hit. Emily – it must be good luck to take these to church functions – it seems everyone is doing it!Clairissa – of course you get extra points. 500 extra points for you!!
Do I get extra points because I actually KNOW you? Woo hoo! One of my friends is a famous chef! 🙂 Anyway, just wanted you to know that I am making these toolicious delights for a baby shower on Saturday. Fun!
I just found your blog and LOVE it! I tried these bars yesterday and took them to church, the pan was gone in minutes. So good, thank you!!
must. . . make. . .. very soon!
Had to make a late Saturday night run to the store for caramels. These were absoultely decadent! We made a half batch since there are only three of us left at home, but we polished it off in less than 24 hours! Thanks for the great recipes.
We made these last night and they turned out wonderful! Thanks for all of your wonderful recipes!
I made these and took them to a meeting on Sunday – huge hit. Becky
Holy Cow!!! Those look sinful!! I want some!!!
These look really rich but oh so good!
Hillary – so glad that the pizza was a hit and that it worked ok using a baking sheet turned upside down. Your comment was so nice…thank you! I'm thrilled that you have had such good success with the recipes you've tried.
Kathy – it sounds like pecans are a great addition to these based on others comments, too! Thanks for letting me know.
These look too good not to try! btw, I tried your favorite pizza dough recipe, i loved the white/wheat flour mix it made it perfect and hearty. Also, it really is the perfect pizza sauce recipe!! AND I got a pizza stone, why I never cooked pizza on it before I have no idea becuz it makes the pizzas perfect..trial and error on how much cornmeal etc, but i did it perfectly the other night on the backside of a cookie sheet and it slid successfully onto the pizza stone, I LOVE YOUR RECIPES!! they work every time and become favorites!
Elegant…
Well..with a description like that..I am sold!
Oatmeal and caramel=yummy! We've been remodeling a bathroom, between that and the family watching the Olympics I haven't been on my computer. I had to laugh when in my reader there was a healthy recipe contest followed by meatloaf, potatoes, biscuits and these little squares from heaven! I made chicken and dumpling soup last night, it was fantastic!
I threw some pecans in and then had to scramble to find somewhere to take them so I didn't eat the whole pan myself. They were awesome, thanks!
I am trying not to look at these.I think I just licked the screen.
I LOVE your blog. I have tried a lot of new recipies from here lately because I am in a mid-winter slump! But I know I will stick around!!! I just pulled these Chocolate Caramel Bars from my oven and I am absolutly sure these will be a hit at my house. The only addition is peacans to the top crust because my husband loves caramel and peacans together!!! YUM:)
These look wonderful!
Jamie – you are so nice! Thanks for making my day. Really. I'm on cloud nine (my kids will snap me out of that fast!). Thanks, again.
A perfect bar! Chocolate and caramel mixed together! Please pass the plate!!
I have got to try to make those! My boys would go crazy for them and so would I!
it jsut doesn’t get better than this!
Can I just say, THANK YOU for your blog! I just discovered it the other day, and already it’s a match made in heaven! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE all your recipes (already made the FAB steak hoagies with rave reviews, and have tons more on the docket for the days ahead). You are fantastic, fabulous, creative, amazing…I could go on! Just wanted you to feel appreciated for all your hard work on here!!
Jamie, IL
Wow! Those look incredible! I WILL make them, and soon!
Ok, why are YOU not at MY house right NOW making me these? UGH! Guess I better stop back at the store for those caramels because I HAVE to make these!!!
Oh I love caramel! This looks great, Melanie!
Looks delicious. I would love one of those right now!
Wow! Does that ever look good! Great combination of ingredients and the recipe is a keeper!
Mmmmmm!!! I have been making these for years! They are a family favorite that came from my hubby’s family. It really doesn’t get any better than these, does it? We call them Oatmeal Carmelites though:) Not sure why! There is nothing light about them!
i usually don’t mind making caramel for baking recipes, but i like the easy way of just buying some for this recipe
I’ve bookmarked similar recipes for this before but never seem to get around tom making them. Yours look amazing! I love anything with caramel so I agree with your comments above!!
These are just like the cookies I make called Oatmeal Carmelitas. But instead of a bag of caramels, I use a jar of caramel ice cream topping. I just add some flour after I have micro-waved it!
May have to try this version!
mm i will try adding some peanut butter and make these soon!
poetry. 🙂
MMM….. these look delicious! I just printed the recipe. Cant wait to try them.
It is reffered to as caramel crack in our house 🙂
This looks fantastic. It might be only 8:00 am, but I am totally making these right now. YUM!
My mother in law has been making these since the beginning of time! I started making them last year at my husbands request. Now my family is in love with these little beauties. I think the only difference between the recipe {I didn’t get it out to check} is that we use evaporated milk instead of real milk. But now I want to try it with milk 🙂
These bars are INCREDIBLE!! I’ve been making a similar recipe for years and the pan never lasts long!
I will definitely make these. Some ingredients are already on my grocery list.
The only problem I can see is…. “cool the bars completely before serving so they can set up properly” This may be a challenge 🙂
All my favorite ingredients… I am such a sucker for caramel….