Caramel Chocolate Bars feature a chewy oatmeal cookie crust, topped with semisweet chocolate chips and gooey caramel. They’re quick to make and ready in just 30 minutes!
Layered Cookie Bars like Chocolate Oat Bars and Caramelitas bring together chewy oats and melted chocolate goodness in one delightful bite. These caramel-filled oatmeal cookie bars are perfect for quick and easy desserts at gatherings!
Why you will love this recipe
- The rich chocolate and caramel flavors in this dessert remind you of classic candy bars like Twix. This recipe transforms those amazing flavor combinations into Chewy Chocolate Caramel Oat Bars. They’re satisfying and even sneak in some fiber from the oats for a treat with extra nutrients.
- The sweet taste of brown sugar, chocolate chips, and soft caramel is balanced by the buttery goodness in the chewy oat crust. The crust is a simple mix of melted butter, brown sugar, flour, and quick oats. Quick oats absorb the butter, keeping the crust soft and chewy. This crust mixture also doubles as a streusel topping, giving the bars a gooey center and slightly crispy edges.
- Caramel Chocolate Bars are a fantastic dessert option for parties or even quick weeknight treats. They’re so easy to make and serve up fast. Enjoy these chocolatey, caramel-filled oatmeal bars warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a wonderfully sweet, gooey, and creamy sundae. To add an extra touch of caramel goodness, drizzle some warm Salted Caramel Sauce on top!
What’s the difference between Chocolate Caramel Bars and Caramelitas?
Both Chocolate Caramel Bars and Caramelitas are layered oatmeal bars that are baked twice, first to set the crust and then to cook the oat crumble topping. However, while they’re similar, there are some slight adjustments that set them apart.
Caramel Chocolate Bars have a chewy oatmeal base that’s more like a soft granola bar combined with a soft oatmeal cookie. They’re softer and chewier because they’re made with melted butter, all brown sugar, and no egg. Caramelitas, on the other hand, have a buttery oatmeal cookie crust that’s more like an oatmeal shortbread cookie with a crumble topping. They’re made with softened butter, a mix of white sugar and brown sugar, and they contain an egg for a firmer, more traditional cookie dough texture.
Ingredients Notes
- Oats: Quick oats give the oatmeal cookie crust a chewy, gooey texture as they absorb more melted butter and cook faster than regular rolled oats.
- Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and enhances the natural caramel flavor, contributing to a soft and chewy texture due to its sticky molasses content.
- Flour: All-purpose flour makes the bars light and tender while providing structure to the dough.
- Baking Soda: Acts as a leavening agent, helping the crust rise slightly for a lighter texture.
- Butter: Melted unsalted butter adds richness and moisture to the bars, making them extra gooey and chewy.
- Caramels: Soft, chewy caramels create a gooey, sweet center in the bars. Extra can be melted to drizzle over the bars before serving for a smooth and creamy caramel topping.
- Milk: Whole milk is mixed with the caramels to create a smooth, pourable consistency for the caramel topping, adding richness and achieving a creamy texture.
- Chocolate Chips: Semisweet chocolate chips add bursts of sweet chocolatey flavor throughout the bars, providing the perfect balance of sweetness without making them overly sugary.
Could Caramel Chocolate Bars be made ahead of time?
- Yes, you can definitely make Caramel Chocolate Bars ahead of time. After baking and allowing them to cool completely, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days. Alternatively, you can prepare the dough in advance without baking. Follow the instructions for making the dough, but instead of baking immediately, tightly cover it and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. The next day, bake it in two layers as instructed in the recipe and prepare the caramel layer fresh before baking.
Variations
- Pecan: For a delightful crunch, try making Pecan Caramel Chocolate Bars. Simply sprinkle chopped pecans over the caramel layer along with the oat mixture to transform the bars into pecan caramel chocolate bars.
- More Add-ins: Get creative with additional mix-ins and toppings. Sprinkle some salt flakes or coarse sugar on top for extra sparkle and flavor. You can also add coconut flakes, broken pretzel sticks, graham cracker pieces, or peanuts for unique texture and flavor.
- Chocolate: Mix up the flavor by using different types of chocolate. Instead of semisweet chocolate chips, experiment with dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate chips.
- Shortbread Crust: If you prefer a buttery shortbread layer, you can use it instead of the oat mixture. Cream 1 cup softened butter and 1 cup sugar, then mix in 2 egg yolks and ½ tsp vanilla extract. Sift in 2 cups flour, 1 tsp baking powder, and ¼ tsp salt, and mix until just combined. Refrigerate the dough for an hour, then press it into the base of the pan. Put the chocolate, caramel, and shortbread topping, then bake until golden brown.
Here’s how to store Chocolate Caramel Bars:
- Serve: Keep the bars sealed at room temperature for up to 5 days. Store them in a cool place; if it’s too warm, refrigerate them.
- Store: In an airtight container, the bars will stay good in the fridge for up to a week. The caramel may slightly harden due to chilling, so bring the bars back to room temperature before serving.
- Freeze: You could freeze the bars for up to 3 months. Place them in a freezer bag or another sealed container, with layers separated by wax paper or parchment paper. Thaw them on the counter before serving.
Love Bars? Be sure to check out these other delicious bar recipes!
Caramel Chocolate Bars
Caramel Chocolate Bars feature a chewy oatmeal cookie crust, topped with semisweet chocolate chips and gooey caramel. They're quick to make, and ready in just 30 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 cup quick oats
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter melted
- 14 ounces chewy caramels
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×13 baking pan with baking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together oats, brown sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
- Stir in melted butter until everything is mixed.
- Spread half of the mixture evenly in the baking pan and bake for 10 minutes.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt caramels and milk at 50% power in 30-second increments until smooth and creamy.
- Evenly sprinkle chocolate chips over the baked mixture in the pan.
- Pour the melted caramel over the chocolate chips.
- Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the caramel.
- Bake for another 10 minutes.
- Let it cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
How to store Chocolate Caramel Bars:
Serve: Keep the bars sealed at room temperature for up to 5 days. Store them in a cool place; if it's too warm, refrigerate them. Store: In an airtight container, the bars will stay good in the fridge for up to a week. The caramel may slightly harden due to chilling, so bring the bars back to room temperature before serving. Freeze: You could freeze the bars for up to 3 months. Place them in a freezer bag or another sealed container, with layers separated by wax paper or parchment paper. Thaw them on the counter before serving.Pin this delicious Caramel Chocolate Bars recipe on Pinterest to save and share with your foodie friends!