Caramel Bars

Jun 27, 2021

Caramel Bars

Soft, sweet, and chewy! These bars are for all you caramel and chocolate lovers out there! I think chocolate and caramel are my love languages…
Prep Time
15 MINS
Cook Time
25 MINS
Total Time
340 MINS

These caramel bars are like a soft oatmeal chocolate chip cookie, but with oozy melted caramel in the middle.


The caramel sauce can be made in the microwave with just 2 ingredients and the oatmeal crumble crust is made in just a few minutes! The hardest part is waiting for the bars to cool to cut into them!


These measurements below are for making about 32 bars in a 9x13 pan. If you would like to make fewer bars (about 12-16), you can half each of the ingredients below and bake in a 8x8 or 9x9 pan.

Caramel Bars

Ingredients

Oatmeal and Brown Sugar Mixture

  • 3 Sticks Unsalted Butter (Melted)
  • 1 1/2 Cups Brown Sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons Vanilla
  • 2 Cups Flour
  • 2 Cups Old Fashioned Oats
  • 2 Teaspoons Baking Soda
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Salt

Caramel Sauce

  • 2 Packages Caramel Baking Bits Or Packaged Caramels (I Prefer To Use These)
  • 1 Cup Heavy Cream
  • 1 Sprinkle Of Sea Salt (Optional)

Filling

  • 1 Package Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350° and line 9X13 pan with parchment paper.
  2. Combine the melted butter, brown sugar, and vanilla then beat with a hand or stand mixer for a bit. In a separate bowl, add flour, oats, and baking soda then whisk together. Add the oat/flour mixture to the butter/ sugar mixture and mix just until combined.
  3. Add half of the oatmeal/ brown sugar mixture to the prepared pan and push down and bake for 10-12 min (be sure to reserve the other half for the top later on).
  4. While it bakes, make the caramel sauce: In a saucepan on medium heat combine caramels, heavy cream, and sea salt - stir until melted. This step takes a few minutes. Be sure to keep stirring so the caramels do not burn. (Alternatively- the caramel can be made in the microwave: In a large microwave-safe mixing bowl, combine the caramels, cream, and salt, heat on high power in 60-second intervals to melt caramels, stirring after each 60 seconds).
  5. Once the bottom layer is done baking, evenly sprinkle chocolate chips over then pour melted caramel sauce over chocolate chips.
  6. Evenly crumble the rest of the oatmeal/ brown sugar mix over the top and bake for 15 more minutes.
  7. Let them cool for at least 5 hours (I like to put them in the fridge during this time) before cutting into bars. It'll be a hot mess if you cut into them when hot!