Home » The Best Carmelita Oatmeal Bars

The Best Carmelita Oatmeal Bars

Name: The Best Carmelita Oatmeal Bars
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 3/4 cup light brown sugar; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1.5 sticks unsalted butter (3/4 cup, melted); 1 (11-ounce) bag of caramel bits; 1/4 cup heavy cream; 1 cup chocolate chips - semi-sweet; 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Laura

November 6, 2025

This site runs ads and generates income from affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

There is a pile of square layered bar cookies made with oatmeal, caramel, and chocolate chips. Bars are on a marble surface. There are also chocolate chips on the marble surface.

Jump to Recipe

There’s something magical about a dessert that combines gooey caramel, rich chocolate, and a buttery oatmeal crust.

There is a pile of oatmeal layered bar cookies on a square plate. There is caramel sauce drizzled over the bars with mini chocolate chips and nuts sprinkled over the plate and surface. There is a small clear bowl with caramel sauce. There is a small spoon laying next to the plate. Items are on a white surface.

These oatmeal chocolate chip cookie bars are the perfect mix of soft, chewy, and slightly crunchy, with layers of flavor in every bite. Oatmeal Carmelita Bars are easy to make and seriously irresistible!

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 15 to 20 minutes
Cool Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes
Servings: 12 to 16 bars
Prep Level: Beginner +

What You’ll Love

Sweet & Salty Combo – Rich caramel and melty chocolate chips layered with a buttery oat crust all in one bite.
Simple Ingredients – Most items are pantry staples – Butter, old-fashioned oats, vanilla, chocolate chips, brown sugar, salt, and vanilla extract. Caramel bits can usually be found at your local grocery store.
Easy to Make – No complicated steps – Just layer, bake, and enjoy.
Make-Ahead Friendly – They keep and travel well, making it a great recipe for a potluck, holiday party, or bake sale.
Kid-Friendly – Simple flavors everyone will love!

There is a pile of oatmeal layered bar cookies on a piece of white paper.

Ingredient Notes

Variations & Swaps:

Oats: For best results, use regular oats. Quick cooking oats are not recommended for this cookie bar recipe.
Brown Sugar: Dark brown sugar, white sugar, or coconut sugar can be substituted.
Flour: Swap in a 1:1 ratio of almond flour or oat flour for a more gluten-free recipe.
Chocolate: Dark chocolate chips work well in this recipe. For sweeter chocolate, use milk chocolate chips or white chocolate chips. Balance the extra sweetness by adding an extra pinch or two of salt.
Caramel Bits – Substitute chewy soft caramels found in the candy aisle; Werther’s Original Soft Caramels are often used.
Peanut Butter Carmelitas: Swirl 1/4 cup natural peanut butter into the caramel before pouring it over the base. Or replace chocolate chips with peanut butter chips.

Step-by-Step Instructions

There is a dark saucepan with small round balls of caramel in it. There is a glass measuring cup with heavy cream in it. Items are on a white surface.

There is a dark saucepan with small round balls of caramel and heavy cream in it. There is an empty glass measuring cup. Items are on a white surface.

Preheat oven. Line a 9×9-inch pan with parchment paper or grease well.

Combine the caramel bits and heavy cream in a saucepan. Stir with a wooden spoon until completely smooth. Turn off the heat to slightly cool and thicken.

There is a large bowl with oats in it. There is a white bowl with brown sugar, a bowl with melted butter, and a bowl with flour in it. There are three very small bowls, one with vanilla extract, one with white baking soda, and one with salt. Items are on a white surface.

There is a large mixing bowl with flour, oats, brown sugar, and melted butter in it.There is a wood handle mixing tool resting in the bowl. Bowl is on a white surface.

Mix the dry ingredients (oats, flour, baking soda, salt, and brown sugar). Pour in the vanilla and melted butter. Mix until crumbly and combined.

There is a large white bowl with a crumbly oatmeal mixture in it. There is a wood handle mixing tool resting in the bowl. Bowl is on a white surface.

There is a square baking pan with a layer of an oatmeal mixture in it. There is a large bowl with a crumbly oatmeal mixture in it. There is a spoon resting in the bowl. Items are on a white surface.

Press half of the mixture in an even layer into the bottom of the prepared baking pan and bake.

There is a square baking pan with a layer of an oatmeal mixture, there are two white bowls, one with chocolate chips and the other with chopped nuts. Items are on a white surface.

There is a square baking pan with a layer of an oatmeal mixture, a layer of chocolate chips and chopped nuts. There is a clear glass measuring cups with caramel sauce in it. Items are on a white surface.

Remove from oven, sprinkle the nuts (if using) and the chocolate chips evenly over the hot crust.

There is a square baking pan with a layer of an oatmeal mixture, a layer of chocolate chips and chopped nuts. There is caramel sauce being poured over the top of the layers.

There is a square baking pan lined with white paper. There is an unbaked layered oatmeal mixture with caramel sauce poured over it. There is a large bowl with a crumbly oatmeal mixture in the background. There is a spoon resting in the bowl. Items are on a white surface.

Pour the melted and slightly cooled caramel over the nuts and chocolate.

There is a square baking pan lined with white paper. There is an unbaked layered oatmeal mixture in it.

There is a square baking pan lined with white paper. There is a baked layered oatmeal mixture in it.

Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the entire pan.

Return to the oven and bake until golden brown and bubbling.

There is a large uncut square of baked oatmeal bar cookies on white paper on a wood cutting board. There is a large knife on the board. Wooden board is on a white surface.

There are square oatmeal cookie bars in a single layer on white paper.

Allow to cool completely before removing from the pan and cutting.

See the recipe card below for complete measurements and baking times.

There is a pile of square layered bar cookies made with oatmeal, caramel, and chocolate chips. Bars are on a marble board. There are chocolate chips on the board. There is a white cloth napkin. Items are on a white surface.

Laura Belle’s Tips

Line your pan with parchment paper – This step is a game changer when it comes to lifting the bars out of the pan and slicing. Leave a little overhang on the sides to hold on while lifting.
Watch you bake time – The top should be golden brown, but the bars will still look soft in the center. They firm up as they cool.
Don’t skip the cooling time – These bars are very gooey when hot. Let them cool completely before cutting to help the caramel and chocolate set. You can place the pan in the fridge to speed up cooling time, but keep an eye on it, you don’t want the caramel filling to harden.

There is a pile of square layered bar cookies made with oatmeal, caramel, and chocolate chips. Bars are on a marble surface.

Storing

Keep carmelita bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

To Freeze – Wrap the entire carmelita cookie bar, or individual bars, with plastic wrap. Then wrap them again with aluminum foil or place them in an airtight container or freezer zip-top bag. Freeze for up to 4 months.

More Easy and Delicious Sweet Treats

Easy No-Bake Banana Cheesecake Delight
Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake with Cinnamon
Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce
Churro Cheesecake Bars
4-Ingredient Blueberry Cobbler Made with Cake Mix
Chocolate Birds Nests Treats – by Cooking with Carlee

Yield: 12 to 16 bars