Easy Oatmeal Caramelita Bars are a delightful treat that combines everyone’s favorites: a crumbly bar of oats and brown sugar, sweet chocolate chips, and gooey caramel for the perfect bite.

When you’re looking for an easy, homemade dessert that’s just a little different, try this oatmeal caramelitas recipe!

Easy Oatmeal Caramelita Bars

The perfect blend of buttery brown sugar oats, layered with melted chocolate and gooey caramel. Everyone's favorite thing to find in their lunchbox.

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 30

Total Time 1

Serving Size bbar

Equipment

Aluminum foil
9 x 13 baking dish

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups quick oats (not instant oatmeal!)
1 ½ cups brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)
1 (12 ounce) bag chocolate chips
1 ½ (11 ounce) package of caramels (about 16 ounces total of caramels)
½ cup cream or half and half

Instructions

Preheat oven and prepare pan. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) with the rack in the center position. Then, line a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with aluminum foil, allowing it to overhang by a few inches to create handles for easy removal later. Don't forget to spray the foil generously with non-stick cooking spray.
Make the oatmeal layer. Mix together the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt in a big bowl. Then, melt the butter and add it to the dry ingredients. Stir everything together until it becomes crumbly. After that, put away 3 cups of the mixture and press the rest firmly into the bottom of the baking dish you prepared.
Add the chocolate and caramel layers. Unwrap the caramels and put them in a microwave-safe bowl. Pour the cream or half and half over the caramels. Microwave on medium power for about 5 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the caramels are completely melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour the melted caramel evenly over the oatmeal layer in the baking dish. Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the caramel layer.
Top and Bake. Evenly prinkle the remaining oatmeal mixture evenly over the chocolate chips. Put it in the oven for 30 minutes or until the top turns golden brown. Take it out of the oven and let it cool on a wire rack.
Serve. When the bars are fully cooled, grab the foil handles to take them out of the baking dish. Move them to a cutting board and cut them into 24 bars.

Notes

Choose good chocolate chips and real butter to make the bars tastier and smoother.

When you press down the oat mixture in the pan, make sure it’s even to avoid any parts being too thick or too thin. Use the flat bottom of your measuring cup to press the oatmeal mixture into the baking dish

You can halve this recipe and bake it in an 8-inch square pan. Just bake it for 20 minutes.

Don’t use jarred caramel sauce as a substitute; it won’t set properly and will be too messy when cutting the bars.

More Tips:

When you melt the caramels, use the microwave for short periods and stir often to prevent burning or uneven melting.

Before you unwrap and melt the caramels, let them reach room temperature. This will make them easier to handle and melt smoothly.

Let the bars cool completely in the pan before removing them using the foil sling. This will help them set properly and make cutting easier.

Use a sharp knife to cut the bars neatly, and remember to wipe the knife between cuts for a clean, professional appearance.

For the neatest slices, cool bars completely before cutting into squares. Dampen a knife under cold water and wipe dry between cuts for clean edges.

You can make a butterscotch version of this recipe by substituting the brown sugar with white and replacing the chocolate chips with chopped butterscotch or butterscotch chips.

caramelitas next to black and white straws.

Serving Suggestions

Oatmeal Caramelita Bars pair well with fresh berries, vanilla ice cream, hot coffee, tea, whipped cream, or salted caramel sauce for drizzling.

About the Ingredients

Here are good ingredient alternatives for this recipe:

Butter: You can use margarine or coconut oil instead.
Brown sugar: Try using coconut or granulated sugar with a tablespoon of molasses.
Chocolate chips: Use dark chocolate chunks or white chocolate chips as an alternative.
Cream or half and half: You can try evaporated or non-dairy milk like almond or coconut milk.

Remember that swapping these ingredients might give your recipe a different flavor, so give them a shot for a new taste.

Storage Instructions

You can keep the bars in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To prevent them from sticking, put parchment paper between the layers.

You can also keep the bars in the fridge for up to 1 week. This will keep them firm and fresh for a bit longer.

Oatmeal Caramelita Bars don’t freeze well because the caramel layer can become hard and change the texture. It’s best to enjoy them fresh or within a week of making.

These yummy Oatmeal Caramelita Bars make a delightful sweet treat anytime. With their layers of buttery oats, rich chocolate, and gooey caramel, I promise they will surely be a hit.

Whether it’s for lunchboxes, gatherings, or a cozy home snack, these bars are a real winner!

How to Make Easy Oatmeal Caramelita Bars: Your New Favorite Dessert