Why does it seem like whenever you are trying to eat better, you are constantly tempted by sweets?? I decided to get serious about losing these last 10 baby pounds, and decided that I’m going to go all week without eating any sugar. And of course, that’s when I get the baking bug and when everything looks so good. And then I sit down to write up this post, and of course I just want another batch of these beauties!!
These bars are so good – they are part of the reason I’m still holding onto those 10 pounds. I won’t even admit how many of these I ate. So good. I was lucky that I made them to take to someone else, so I didn’t have the whole pan sitting at my house to eat.
These bars are the perfect addition to any picnic or backyard bbq – everyone will rave over them. Just don’t be surprised when they are the first thing gone!
Oatmeal Carmelitas
from Pillsbury Best of the Bakeoff
makes 36 bars
CRUST
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups quick cooking oats
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups butter, softened
FILLING
1 (12.25 oz) jar (1 cup) caramel ice cream topping
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 (6 oz) package (1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup nuts (optional)
Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 13×9-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°F. for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in small bowl, combine caramel topping and 3 tablespoons flour; blend well.
Remove partially baked crust from oven; sprinkle with chocolate chips and nuts. Drizzle evenly with caramel mixture; sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture.
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
I love these! Great treat!
Oh I definitely know how you feel…I can’t go a week without baking. So I’m super good 6 out of 7 days and then I bake. I figure it’s a pretty fair deal. These carmelitas sound amazing!
These look so lovely. Beauty recipe.
OMG – these look/sound amazing!! As soon as I am done with this detox diet, they are the first item on my baking list!!!
A friend of mine makes these all the time… However, when she was in college she changed the name of these yummy treats. She calls them “Man Catching Cookies”
I think the name is pretty fitting since most men swoon over the lovely lady that bakes up these delish treats.
I love these things. The are so good! I have to have somewhere to take them as well because I always want “just a little bit more”
these are 100% my kinda food:
oatmeal/crumbles rock my world
and so does caramel.
Deb, these are perfect!!!
Desserts are my biggest weakness while trying to lose weight… these seem to be worth a few extra pounds, though!
Oh my goodness! I can tell you right now that I would be VERY tempted to eat the whole pan of these. Holy cow do they look great!
Delicious! I’m certainly tempted! Thank you for sharing with me tonight. You injected my day with creativity and beauty. I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow, my dear friend! Hugs and love from Austin.
these are an absolute favorite, and it matters not to me that they make use of store-bought caramel. all the flavor, a fraction of the labor.