Oatmeal Caramel Bars
These Oatmeal Caramel Bars blend golden oats with rich caramel, offering a comforting and nostalgic dessert that is easy to make and perfect for gatherings.
Servings: 12 bars
Calories: 220kcal
Ingredients
Crust & Topping
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
Caramel Filling
- 1 (11 oz) bag soft caramels, unwrapped Approximately 35 pieces
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional) Adds extra flavor and richness
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt.
- Stir in the warm, melted butter until the mixture is crumbly.
- Press half of the mixture evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan.
- Bake for 10 minutes until slightly golden.
Making Caramel
- In a saucepan over low heat, melt the unwrapped caramels with heavy cream, stirring until smooth.
Assembly
- Sprinkle the optional chocolate chips over the baked crust.
- Pour the melted caramel evenly over the top.
- Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the caramel layer.
- Return to oven and bake for 15–20 minutes or until golden brown.
Finishing Touches
- Cool completely before cutting into bars.
- For cleaner cuts, refrigerate them for 30 minutes.
Notes
These bars can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week. For a lighter version, consider using coconut sugar instead of brown sugar.