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## What Are Carmelitas?
Carmelitas are a delicious dessert bar made from layers of oat cookie crust, a gooey caramel filling, and chocolate chips. They have become a popular treat due to their wonderful combination of textures and flavors. The bottom layer is made with oats, sugar, and butter, providing a slightly crunchy texture. The middle layer consists of a luscious caramel sauce, often paired with chocolate chips, which gives the carmelitas their signature gooey and rich center. Finally, the top layer is a crumbly, oat-based topping that adds a final crunch to each bite.
Carmelitas are often compared to caramel shortbread bars or chocolate caramel bars, but they stand out thanks to the addition of oats, which give them a unique chewiness. This dessert is perfect for those who love a blend of caramel, oats, and chocolate in their sweets. And the best part? They’re incredibly easy to make!
### Why You Should Make Carmelitas
– **Simple to Prepare**: You don’t need to be a professional baker to make carmelitas. The recipe is simple, requires basic pantry ingredients, and doesn’t involve any fancy techniques.
– **Quick to Make**: Unlike some complex desserts that take hours to prepare, carmelitas come together in less than an hour, making them perfect for a quick treat or last-minute dessert for a party or family gathering.
– **Crowd-Pleaser**: With their irresistible blend of caramel, oats, and chocolate, carmelitas are sure to impress. Whether you’re hosting a party or bringing dessert to a potluck, these bars are always a hit.
– **Customizable**: While the classic carmelita recipe calls for chocolate chips, you can make endless variations, such as adding nuts, using different types of chocolate, or experimenting with flavor combinations.
– **Make Ahead**: Carmelitas store well in an airtight container, which makes them great for making ahead and enjoying over several days (if they last that long!).
## Ingredients for Easy Carmelitas
The beauty of carmelitas lies in the simplicity of the ingredients. You’ll find that most of the ingredients for this recipe are already in your pantry. Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy caramelita recipe:
### **For the Crust and Topping**:
– **1 1/2 cups rolled oats**: The oats give the crust and topping a hearty, chewy texture, which balances the sweetness of the caramel and chocolate.
– **1 cup all-purpose flour**: This helps form the base of the crust and gives the dessert its structure.
– **1/2 cup packed brown sugar**: Brown sugar adds a rich, molasses flavor to the crust, enhancing the caramel and oat flavor.
– **1/2 teaspoon baking soda**: Baking soda helps the dough rise slightly, ensuring the bars aren’t too dense.
– **1/2 teaspoon salt**: A pinch of salt brings out the sweetness of the caramel and chocolate, giving the dessert a well-rounded flavor.
– **1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted**: The melted butter binds the ingredients together and creates a rich flavor for the crust.
– **1/4 cup water**: Adding a little water ensures the mixture comes together easily, without being too dry.
### **For the Caramel Layer**:
– **1/2 cup unsalted butter**: Butter is essential in creating the smooth and creamy texture of the caramel.
– **1/2 cup brown sugar**: Brown sugar adds the perfect amount of sweetness and depth of flavor to the caramel.
– **1/4 cup heavy cream**: Heavy cream provides the smooth and velvety texture of the caramel, making it indulgent and melt-in-your-mouth.
– **1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract**: Vanilla enhances the flavor of the caramel, bringing all the ingredients together.
### **For the Chocolate Layer**:
– **1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips**: Chocolate chips melt beautifully over the caramel layer and add a rich, creamy texture that balances the sweetness of the dessert.
## Step-by-Step Guide to Making Easy Carmelitas
Now that you have all your ingredients, let’s dive into the step-by-step process to make your carmelitas.
### Step 1: Prepare the Crust
1. **Preheat the Oven**: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
2. **Mix Dry Ingredients**: In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt. Stir to combine.
3. **Add Wet Ingredients**: Pour the melted butter and water into the dry mixture. Stir everything together until the ingredients are well combined and the mixture starts to form a crumbly dough-like texture.
4. **Press Into the Pan**: Take half of the oat mixture and press it evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Use the back of a spoon or your hands to press it down firmly. This will create the base of your carmelitas.
### Step 2: Prepare the Caramel Layer
1. **Melt the Caramel Ingredients**: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, brown sugar, and heavy cream together, stirring occasionally. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, and allow it to cook for about 4-5 minutes until it thickens slightly and becomes a smooth caramel.
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