Description
Gooey chocolate and caramel meld perfectly in these irresistible caramelitas from Minnesota’s heartland. Layered oat crumble and rich chocolate create a mouthwatering dessert that delights with each sweet, crumbly bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 11 oz baking caramels
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (120 ml)
- 3/4 cup butter, unsalted (melted) (170 g)
- 3/4 cup brown sugar (150 g)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (125 g)
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats (90 g)
- 1 tsp baking soda
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350°F and prepare an 8×8 inch baking dish with parchment paper or a light grease coating.
- Melt caramels and heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly until smooth and glossy. Remove from heat and let rest.
- Create a crumbly base mixture by combining melted butter, brown sugar, flour, oats, and baking soda in a mixing bowl until fully integrated.
- Press half of the oat mixture into the prepared baking dish, creating an even foundational layer.
- Bake the initial layer for 10 minutes until lightly golden and set.
- Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips across the warm baked layer in a uniform distribution.
- Gently pour the caramel mixture over the chocolate chips, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Delicately scatter the remaining oat mixture across the caramel surface, creating a textured top layer.
- Return the dish to the oven and bake for an additional 18-20 minutes, watching for a golden-brown appearance.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely at room temperature before cutting into squares for serving.
Notes
- Chilling the caramel mixture for a few minutes before pouring helps create a more stable layer and prevents chocolate from melting too quickly.
- For gluten-free variations, substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour or certified gluten-free oats to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Enhance flavor complexity by adding a pinch of sea salt over the caramel layer, which beautifully balances the sweetness and creates a gourmet touch.
- Ensure complete cooling before cutting to achieve clean, precise slices and prevent the bars from falling apart during serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 277
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 2.5 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg