Recipe Recap: Carmelitas

Warning: These things are highly addictive so make 'em at your own risk.

I've made these a couple of times now, and I wish I had a batch to pick from as I type. These Carmelitas are super easy to make, and they are absolutely delicious. I thought now would be a good time to finally share the recipe with you guys because some of you might be looking for a dessert to make for a July 4th celebration. I promise, you can't go wrong with this one.

Ingredients

CRUST:

• 2 cups Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
• 2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
• 1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups butter or margarine, softened

FILLING:

• 1 jar Smucker's® Caramel Spoonable Ice Cream Topping
• 3 tablespoons Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
• 1 (6 ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 13x9-inch pan. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. In large bowl, combine all crust ingredients; mix at low speed until crumbly. Reserve half of crumb mixture (about 3 cups) for topping. Press remaining crumb mixture in bottom of greased pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in small bowl, combine caramel topping and 3 tablespoons flour; blend well.
3. Remove partially baked crust from oven. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and nuts. Drizzle evenly with caramel mixture. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture.
4. Return to oven; bake an additional 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 hour or until completely cooled. Refrigerate 1 to 2 hours or until filling is set. Cut into bars.

My notes: I didn't use pecans, I used a whole regular-sized bag of chocolate chips, and I used a whole squeeze bottle of caramel topping, which might've been almost double what the recipe called for.

I didn't get very good pictures of the bars, but I can't do a post, especially a food post, without pictures.

The crumbly oatmeal topping. See, these are actually good for you. Oatmeal = healthy, right?


And a quick peek at what's under that oatmeal layer. Mmm, caramel and chocolate...