Oatmeal Caramelitas

Posted by Kimberly:

A few years ago, my family was visiting our best friends who lived in McKinney, TX at the time. She had made oatmeal caramelitas for dessert, and I couldn't quit eating them. They quickly became one of my favorite desserts, and anytime that I make them, women always want the recipe. What woman doesn't love chocolate and caramel, right?! Case in point: My kids' school has a cookie cook-off every year during its Fall Festival. This year my daughter entered them for her grade level and won first place. The moms and teachers who were around during the judging kept stopping me to tell me how wonderful they were and requested the recipe.

Oatmeal Caramelitas

1 (14 oz.) package caramels, unwrapped
1/2 cup evaporated milk
2 cups flour
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup butter, melted
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the caramels with the evaporated milk stirring frequently until smooth. Set aside. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, oats, brown sugar, and baking soda. Stir in the melted butter. Press half of the mixture into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan. Bake for 10 minutes. (Do not overbake.) Remove from the oven, and pour caramel mixture over top. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the caramel. Crumble the remaining oat mixture evenly over the top, and pat down lightly. (I actually get a handful of the remaining mixture and squeeze it together and then break it apart so that it is in various-sized chunks.) Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the top is golden. Cool before cutting into bars. *I prefer to eat these warm, so I will nuke them in the microwave before eating.


Now just a little funny on my sister: She quickly became a big fan of these, too, so when she and her kids came to my house for a visit, I made them. I always bake mine in a glass 9x13 casserole dish. Well, on Sunday morning, we were in a dash to get out the door for church, so I hollered at her and asked her to put the chicken in the oven. When we walked in the door after church, I didn't smell barbecued chicken cooking in the oven, so I opened the oven door and found the caramelitas in there instead! I'm sure you can only imagine our disappointment when we realized that there was nothing to eat for lunch, and, more importantly, that our dessert was ruined!!!

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