A bit of messy yumminess in your fingers here, people! These Salted Caramel Oatmeal Bars are HEAVENLY! Great to have in the house for nibbles and also a great party food.
Favorite things from this week:
– These bars, of course. Look at them! Believe it or not, they are even more delicious than they look.
– Boy snuggles (super missing my boys now that they are both in school).
– Fresh crisp Fall air!
– Time spent with a cherished childhood friend.
– Naps.
If you are looking for an irresistible new dessert recipe, you need not look any further. These are TO DIE FOR.
A warning, though. Your fingers will be sticky after eating them. If sticky fingers bother you, grab a fork!
I ended up giving the majority of this batch away because they were deemed TOO DANGEROUS TO SIT ON MY COUNTERTOP. Ahem, I have a few other of these types of desserts for you to peruse. Like these Strawberry Brownies or these Funfetti Bars or this Ooey Gooey Butter Cake!
Enjoy! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend wherever you may be!
Salted Caramel Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
CRUST/TOPPING
- 3/4 cup butter (12 tablespoons), softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 2 cups oats
FILLING
- 14 oz. package caramels (or caramel bits, which come unwrapped)
- 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
- 1-2 tsp. sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla. Mix until creamy.
- In a medium bowl, combine flour and baking soda. Mix well and gradually add to the mixing bowl until fully incorporated. Add the oats and stir until combined. Press 2/3 of the batter into prepared pan with fingers (coat fingers with flour, if needed). Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes.
- In a medium saucepan, combine caramels and sweetened condensed milk. Turn heat to Low and stir often until creamy. Pour caramel over crust and top with sea salt. Drop the remaining 1/3 of batter over the top in clumps.
- Bake for an additional 25 minutes and let cool before cutting into squares.
Nutrition
Old fashion or quick oats?
Hi Shelley, old fashioned or rolled oats are preferable. They hold up better when combined with other ingredients and offer more of a chewy result when enjoying a dessert bar.
They look great – can they be frozen?
You can freeze them if you’d like. Place them in an airtight container and I’d recommend putting wax paper between them so when you let them come to room temperature they don’t stick to each other.
These ARE delicious! Easy to make and a bit hit cut into bite-size pieces for a party. Despite the caramel, they are not too sweet. Would be good warm with vanilla ice cream.
The ice cream would be good with it – these are so delicious, I need to make them again soon. Thanks for sharing!
WOW……I am ready to start baking!
Really delicious looking bars! That oozing caramel is fabulous!