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    Home » Recipes » Dessert » Bar Cookies

    Carmelitas

    Published by Melissa on September 17, 2022 | Updated September 17, 2022 | 1 Comment

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    These Carmelitas have sweet, crumbly oatmeal cookie layers sandwiching a creamy caramel and chocolate chip filling for the perfect combination of gooey, melty, and crispy in every bite. via @barbarabakes

    Carmelita Bars have sweet, crumbly oatmeal cookie layers sandwiching a creamy caramel and chocolate chip filling for the perfect combination of gooey, melty, and crispy in every bite. 

    It’s an easy-to-make bar cookie with a gooey caramel and chocolate chip middle. The combination is wonderful and crowd-pleasing all year long.

    four carmelita cookie bars stacked on each other
    a white plate with four carmelita cookie bars stacked on it

    Carmelitas

    Carmelitas are a popular bar cookie at church potlucks in my area.There are three layers to these bar cookies: the top and bottom are made with oats and brown sugar. They stay softer in the center and like a cookie, the edges are a little crisper.

    In the center is a creamy chocolate chip and caramel layer. But don’t be intimidated by making caramel, this is a fun short-cut recipe that starts with Kraft caramel candies!

    Speaking of caramel, you’ll want to unwrap the caramels and have all your ingredients ready before you start. These bar cookies come together quickly. 

    a white plate with four carmelita cookie bars stacked on it

    Ingredients

    • Flour
    • Rolled oats
    • Brown sugar 
    • Butter 
    • Kraft Caramels
    • Evaporated milk
    • Heavy cream
    • Semi-sweet chocolate chips

    Recipe Instructions

    • In a large bowl, mix together flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt. Add melted butter and mix until combined well. Spread half of the mixture in prepared pan, pressing down to cover the bottom. Bake 10 minutes. When 10 minutes are up, remove from oven but do not turn off oven.
    • While oat mixture bakes, place unwrapped caramels, evaporated milk, and cream in a saucepan over low heat. Stir frequently until caramels are melted and mixture is thoroughly combined. 
    • Sprinkle chocolate chips over baked mixture and then pour melted caramel evenly over the chips. Sprinkle remaining oat mixture over caramel and bake 15 minutes.
    • Let cool completely and cut into bars when ready to serve. 
    a white plate with carmelita cookie bars
    How to Know that the Bars are Done

    You’ll be able to tell when the bars are done cooking because they pull away from the edges.
    When you remove them from the oven, the caramel needs time to set up again. So you do not want to cut these while they’re hot. If you can make them the night before you’re serving them, they’ll be easier to cut. 

    Can I Freeze Carmelitas?

    Certainly. You can freeze a whole batch or individual bar cookies. Wrap them tightly in plastic or a zip-top bag and keep them in the freezer for up to three months. You can defrost the cookies on the counter before serving.

    a cutting board with the cookie bars just freshly cut the squares from the sheet

    More Recipes

    • Pineapple Coconut Bar Cookies
    • Tropical Magic Cookie Bars
    • Chocolate Chip Coconut Oatmeal Bars

    If you’ve tried this Carmelitas recipe or any other recipe on Barbara Bakes, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some pictures of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories.

    four carmelita cookie bars stacked on each other
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    Carmelitas

    Carmelitas are a soft and crispy layered bar cookie with an oatmeal crisp crust and a creamy chocolate-caramel filling. 
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time25 mins
    Total Time45 mins
    Course: Bar Cookies
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 24 Bars
    Author: Barbara Bakes LLC
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    Equipment

    • AmazonBasics Silicone Baking Mat Sheet, Set of 2
    • OXO Good Grips Non-Stick Pro Half Sheet 13 x 18 Inch
    • Raised in the Kitchen: Making Memories from Scratch One Recipe at a Time

    Ingredients

    Crust and Topping

    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
    • 2 cups brown sugar firmly packed
    • 2 teaspoons baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 ⅓ cups butter melted

    Filling

    • 1 ½ 11-ounce bags Kraft Caramels, unwrapped
    • ½ cup evaporated milk
    • ¼ cup heavy cream
    • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on each side for easy lifting later. Spray foil with nonstick cooking spray. (I used nonstick aluminum foil.)
    • In a large bowl, mix together flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt. Add melted butter and mix until combined well. Spread half of the mixture in prepared pan, pressing down to cover the bottom. Bake 10 minutes. When 10 minutes are up, remove from oven but do not turn off oven.
    • While oat mixture bakes, place unwrapped caramels, evaporated milk, and cream in a saucepan over low heat. Stir frequently until caramels are melted and mixture is thoroughly combined. 
    • Sprinkle chocolate chips over baked mixture and then pour melted caramel evenly over the chips. Sprinkle remaining oat mixture over caramel and bake 15 minutes.
    • Let cool completely in pan on wire rack. Use foil to lift out of pan and cut into bars when ready to serve. 
    pin that reads "carmelitas cookie bars" with a a white plate with stacked with carmelita cookie bars

    Carmelitas have sweet, crumbly oatmeal cookie layers sandwiching a creamy caramel and chocolate chip filling for the perfect combination of gooey, melty, and crispy in every bite. 

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    About Melissa & Barbara

    As of June 2022 Melissa Griffiths now is the one adding recipes. So think of it as Barbara Bakes, and Melissa too! Melissa and Barbara have been blogging friends for over 10 years and when Barbara was ready to retire and spend more time with her family, Melissa took over the site. Read more...

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    1. Wanda

      January 16, 2023 at 8:47 pm

      Where’s Jen?? and Luna??

      Reply

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