The Best Carmelitas

These brown butter carmelitas are made with a buttery oat cookie base studded with rich chocolate chips and stuffed with a gooey layer of salted caramel.

Brown Butter Carmelitas

Everyones loves a carmelita. I mean, it’s basically a buttery oatmeal chocolate chip cookie stuffed with salted caramel. Likeeeee…need I say more? Don’t worry–I will. These carmelitas are extra special because they’re made with brown butter, a generous glug of vanilla extract and a heavy pinch of salt which really deepens the flavor from one-noted sweetness to seriously gourmet. They come together quickly, stay fresh for days and are perfect for sharing AKA my kind of cookie bar.

What are caramelitas

Carmelitas are a magical combination of buttery oats, melty chocolate, and gooey caramel. Think of them as the love child of a chocolate chip cookie bar and a caramel-filled dream. The texture is everything: soft, chewy, and slightly crisp around the edges. They’re decadent but not overly sweet, with a little bit of saltiness that takes them to the next level. These bars are the ultimate dessert for sharing (or not—no judgment here!). Our recipe adds a little extra flair to the classic using:

• Browned Butter Base: Browned butter adds a nutty, caramel-like depth of flavor to the oat cookie base that’s unmatched. It perfectly complements the caramel filling and deepens the flavor of an otherwise one-noted cookie bar.
• Salted Caramel Filling: Adding a heavy pinch of salt to your caramel filling balances the sweetness in that rich, gooey layer of caramel.
• Chocolate Chips: Because what’s a cookie bar without a little chocolate? The chocolate melts into the caramel, creating pure magic.

What ingredients will you need to make homemade carmelitas

Okay, so now you’re sold. Let’s get into the nitty gritty so you can whip these up for yourself. Here’s your shopping list:

• Unsalted butter
• Light brown sugar
• Granulated sugar
• Egg yolk
• Vanilla extract
• All-purpose flour
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Old fashioned oats
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Soft caramels
• Heavy cream

How to store carmelitas so they stay fresh for days

Store your carmelitas in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to a week. Want to save some for later? These bars freeze beautifully. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving!

These carmelitas are perfect for pretty much all occasions and stay fresh for days, so they’re perfect for whipping up on a Sunday for lunch dessert all week long. One bite and you’ll see why they’re the “best” hehe.

Happy baking, friends!

XXX

• Author: Sofi | Broma Bakery
• Prep Time: 40 minures
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Yield: 16 bars
• Category: dessert
• Method: oven
• Cuisine: american

The Best Carmelitas

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These brown butter carmelitas are made with layers of buttery oat shortbread studded with chocolate chips and stuffed with a gooey layer of salted caramel.

• Author: Sofi | Broma Bakery
• Prep Time: 40 minures
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Yield: 16 bars
• Category: dessert
• Method: oven
• Cuisine: american

Units: USM

Equipment

mixing bowl

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9 x 9-inch pan

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sauce pan

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rubber spatula

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Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, browned
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/3 cups old fashioned oats*
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips

for the caramel layer

• 40 soft caramels (we used Werther’s!)
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9 x 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper on all sides. Set aside.
2. Brown the butter over medium heat, stirring constantly until the butter begins to foam and turns a golden brown, emitting a nutty aroma. As soon as the butter starts to turn brown and smell nutty, take it off the heat to prevent any more liquid from escaping. Take the butter off the heat and set aside to cool slightly.
3. In a large mixing bowl combine the brown sugar, all-purpose flour, oats, baking soda, and salt. Stir to combine. Make a well in the center and add the browned butter, egg yolk and vanilla extract. Stir until the mixture starts to come together to form a dough. It will be a little dry, almost like a shortbread!
4. Add the chocolate chips and mix to distribute. Transfer about half the dough into your prepared pan, patting it into an even layer. Set aside while you make the caramel layer.
5. Place the unwrapped caramels and heavy cream in a medium sauce pan over low-medium heat. Using a rubber spatula, stir to the caramels constantly until completely melted, about 3 minutes. Once melted, remove from the heat immediately. Stir in the salt and vanilla extract.
6. Pour the caramel over the bottom layer in your pan. Press the remaining dough over the top of the caramel, gently patting it into an even layer. Don’t worry if it doesn’t cover the caramel completely—a little caramel peeking through is totally fine!
7. Bake for 30 minutes or until the bars are golden brown all over and you can the caramel starting to bubble slightly. Let the bars cool completely before slicing and serving!