Caramel Chocolate Bars
Welcome to a world of irresistible sweetness and indulgence with our latest culinary creation – Caramel Chocolate Bars. These decadent bars are a symphony of rich flavors and delightful textures, featuring a buttery oatmeal crust generously layered with velvety caramel and topped with a generous sprinkle of decadent chocolate. As you sink your teeth into each heavenly bite, you’ll experience the perfect harmony of chewy oats, gooey caramel, and the luxurious touch of chocolate. Perfect for satisfying your sweet cravings or impressing guests at your next gathering. Join us on a journey of indulgence as we unravel the steps to creating these heavenly bars.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE chocolate caramel bars
These carefully selected ingredients come together to create a delightful fusion of flavors and textures in these bars, making them a perfect treat for those with a sweet tooth.
- Kraft Caramel Bites (or 70 caramel squares) – 22 oz (two 11 oz bags): These soft caramel bites provide a convenient and time-saving option for the caramel layer, ensuring a gooey and luscious texture.
- Heavy Whipping Cream – 1 Cup: The whipping cream is used to create a rich and creamy caramel sauce, adding luxurious smoothness to the bars.
- Unsalted Butter – 3 Sticks (1 ½ Cups, melted): Melted butter forms the base of the oatmeal crust, contributing to its buttery and crumbly texture.
- Brown Sugar – 1 ½ Cups: The brown sugar adds sweetness and a subtle molasses flavor to both the crust and the caramel layer.
- Salt – ½ Teaspoon: A small amount of salt enhances the overall flavor profile, balancing the sweetness of the caramel and chocolate.
- Vanilla Extract – 2 Tablespoons: Vanilla extract imparts a warm and aromatic flavor, enhancing the overall richness of the bars.
- Flour – 2 Cups: All-purpose flour serves as the primary dry ingredient in the crust, providing structure and stability.
- Old-Fashioned Oats (not quick oats) – 2 Cups: These oats contribute to the hearty and chewy texture of the crust, ensuring a satisfying bite.
- Baking Soda – 2 Teaspoons: Baking soda acts as a leavening agent, providing a slight lift to the oatmeal crust.
- Nestle Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips – 12 oz (1 Bag): The semi-sweet chocolate chips add a decadent layer of chocolatey goodness, melting into a luscious topping that complements the caramel and oat layers.
HOW TO MAKE THESE DELICIOUS OOEY GOOEY caramel chocolate
Time needed: 40 minutes
- Prepare the Crust:
Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray. Lining your pan will make cleanup easier due to the stickiness of the caramel. Set the pan aside.
In a large microwave-safe mixing bowl, add the butter and heat in one-minute increments stirring in between until melted.
In a large bowl add the melted butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and whisk until smooth.
Add the flour, oats, baking soda, salt, and stir until combined. The mixture will be thick.
- Press Mixture into Pan:
Press half of the mixture into the prepared pan, and smooth it with a spatula, to create an even, smooth, flat layer; set the remainder aside. - Bake and Prepare Caramel:
Bake for 10 minutes.
While the crust is baking, prepare the caramel sauce. Combine caramel bites and heavy cream in a medium saucepan, and heat over medium-low heat to melt, stirring nearly continuously, until the mixture is smooth. - Sprinkle Chocolate Chips:
After 10 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and evenly sprinkle with the chocolate chips on the crust. - Add the Caramel:
Next, slowly and evenly pour caramel sauce over the chocolate chips. - Add Remaining Topping:
Finally, evenly crumble the leftover oatmeal-brown sugar mixture all over the top. - Final Bake:
Place the pan back in the oven and bake for an additional 15-18 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned and the center is bubbling. - Slicing and Serving:
It’s important to allow bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing and serving, This could take 4 hours, overnight, or at room temperature. You can speed up the process by placing the pan in the refrigerator. For smoother cuts, run the knife under hot water and wipe it dry between slices. This helps prevent the caramel from sticking to the knife, resulting in neater bars.
FAQ – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Absolutely! While store-bought caramel bites provide convenience, you can substitute them with homemade caramel. Ensure it’s a soft and gooey consistency for the best results.
To prevent the caramel from sticking to the pan, line the baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang. This makes it easier to lift the bars out of the pan and facilitates clean-cutting.
It’s recommended to use old-fashioned oats for a chewier texture. Quick oats can result in a softer consistency, potentially altering the desired texture of the oatmeal layer.
Achieving the right consistency depends on the caramel cooking time. If the bars are too gooey, the caramel might need more time to set. If they’re too hard, reduce the cooking time to avoid overcooking the caramel.
Yes, you can freeze caramel chocolate bars. Ensure they’re fully cooled, cut into bars, and wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or place them in an airtight container. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
PRO COOKING TIPS:
- Perfect Caramel Texture:
- When melting the caramel bites with heavy whipping cream, stir constantly over medium-low heat until completely melted. This helps achieve a smooth and creamy caramel texture.
- Even Crust Thickness:
- Press the oatmeal crust mixture firmly and evenly into the baking pan. Using the back of a spoon or a flat-bottomed measuring cup can help create a uniform crust thickness.
- Prevent Overmixing the Oat Mixture:
- Mix the oatmeal crust ingredients until just combined. Overmixing can lead to a denser crust. Stop as soon as the ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Layering Components:
- Layer the crust, caramel, and chocolate evenly for a well-balanced bite. Spread each layer gently to avoid mixing them, ensuring distinct layers in the final bars.
- Room Temperature Butter:
- Use room-temperature butter when preparing the crust. This ensures even distribution and a smoother texture, enhancing the overall quality of the oatmeal layer.
- Cool Before Cutting:
- Allow the caramel chocolate bars to cool completely before cutting. This helps set the layers, making it easier to achieve clean and neat squares.
COMMON RECIPE SUBSTITUTIONS FOR CARAMEL BAR :
- Caramel Bites: If caramel bites are unavailable, you can use individually wrapped caramel candies or homemade soft caramel. Ensure they are of a similar weight or adjust as needed.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Half-and-half or whole milk can be substituted for heavy whipping cream in the caramel layer. While the consistency may vary slightly, it will still contribute to a creamy caramel texture.
- Unsalted Butter: Salted butter can be used if unsalted is not available. Adjust the added salt in the recipe accordingly to maintain the desired balance of flavors.
- Brown Sugar: Substitute light brown sugar with dark brown sugar or vice versa based on what you have on hand. This may slightly alter the depth of flavor but will still work well.
- Vanilla Extract: In the absence of vanilla extract, you can use vanilla bean paste or vanilla flavoring. Alternatively, almond extract can add a unique twist to the flavor profile.
- Flour: All-purpose flour can be replaced with a 1:1 ratio of whole wheat flour for a nuttier flavor or with a gluten-free flour blend for a gluten-free version.
- Old-Fashioned Oats: If you don’t have old-fashioned oats, use quick oats. Keep in mind that quick oats might result in a slightly softer texture in the oatmeal layer.
- Baking Soda: Baking powder can be used as a substitute for baking soda. Use half the amount of baking powder as called for in the recipe.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Dark chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, or a combination of both can be used based on personal preference. Chopped chocolate bars can also be used as an alternative.
- Salt: If using salted butter and want to reduce the overall salt content, you can omit or reduce the additional salt called for in the recipe.
- Gluten-Free Option: For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend and ensure that other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
LOOKING FOR MORE DESSERT OPTIONS?
Explore a treasure trove of sweet delights on our food blog, where each recipe promises to satisfy your dessert cravings with a touch of culinary magic. Dive into the irresistible world of our Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Pie or Creamy German Chocolate Cheesecake, a symphony of flavors that will captivate any peanut butter or chocolate lover. Or, for a refreshing twist, indulge in our Easy Lemon Bars, a perfect balance of zesty citrus, promising a burst of flavor in every bite. These delectable creations and many more, each crafted to elevate your dessert experience to new heights.
HOW TO STORE AND FREEZE LEFTOVER CARAMEL chocolate BAR?
Preserving the delightful goodness of leftover caramel bars is a breeze with proper storage and freezing techniques. For short-term storage, keep the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. If you anticipate a longer duration before indulging again, opt for refrigeration, extending the freshness for about a week. To freeze caramel bars, wrap individual pieces tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe container, ensuring they are well-separated to prevent sticking. Label the container with the date for easy tracking. When ready to enjoy, thaw the bars in the refrigerator overnight to maintain their texture. Alternatively, for a quick thaw, use the defrost function on the microwave.
Caramel Chocolate Bars
Equipment
- 9 x 13 baking dish
Ingredients
- (2) 11 oz Bags Kraft Caramel Bites (or 70 caramel squares)
- 1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
- 3 Sticks Unsalted Butter (melted)
- 1 ½ Cups Brown Sugar
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- 2 Tablespoons Vanilla Extract
- 2 Cups Flour
- 2 Cups Old-Fashioned Oats (not quick oats)
- 2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- (1) 12 oz Bag Nestle Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 9×13-inch pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray. Lining your pan will make cleanup easier due to the stickiness of the caramel. Set the pan aside.
- In a large microwave-safe mixing bowl, add the butter and heat in one minute increments stirring in between until melted.
- In a large bowl add the melted butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and whisk until smooth.
- Add the flour, oats, baking soda, salt, and stir until combined. Mixture will be thick.
- Press half of the mixture to the prepared pan, and smooth it with spatula, to create an even, smooth, flat layer; set remainder aside.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- While the crust is baking, prepare the caramel sauce. Combine caramels bites and heavy cream in a medium saucepan, and heat over medium-low heat to melt, stirring nearly continuously, until mixture is smooth.
- After 10 minutes, remove pan from the oven and evenly sprinkle with the chocolate chips on the crust.
- Next, slowly and evenly pour caramel sauce over the chocolate chips.
- Finally, evenly crumble the leftover oatmeal-brown sugar mixture all over the top.
- Place the pan back in the oven and bake for an additional 15-18 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and center is bubbling.
- It's important to allow bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing and serving, This could take 4 hours, overnight, or at room temperature. You can speed up the process by placing the pan in refrigerator.
These caramel chocolate bars are a heavenly indulgence! The rich, velvety chocolate pairs flawlessly with the luscious caramel, creating a decadent treat that satisfies every sweet craving. A delightful recipe that elevates the classic combination to a new level of deliciousness!
I made these Caramel Chocolate Bars last night, and they were an absolute hit! The layers of chocolate and caramel complement each other perfectly, creating a mouthwatering treat. The recipe was easy to follow, and the end result was a crowd-pleaser. I’ll definitely be making these delicious bars again!
Caramel Chocolate Bars are Simply irresistible!
Yummy yummy