Gooey Oat Bars (Print-Friendly Version)
Chewy caramel bars with chocolate, nestled in an oat crust. Quick to prepare in just one bowl, but full of flavor!
# Ingredients:
01 -
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks.
02 -
½ cup heavy cream.
03 -
35 unwrapped caramel squares.
04 -
½ teaspoon salt.
05 -
1 teaspoon baking soda.
06 -
1 cup oats, old-fashioned whole-rolled.
07 -
1 cup all-purpose flour.
08 -
1 tablespoon extract of vanilla.
09 -
¾ cup packed light brown sugar.
10 -
1½ sticks melted unsalted butter (¾ cup).
# Steps:
01 -
Set the oven to 350°F and get an 8x8-inch pan ready by lining it with foil and giving it a spray of cooking oil.
02 -
Combine melted butter with vanilla and brown sugar. Add oats, salt, flour, and baking soda, then mix well.
03 -
Take half of the dough and press it into the pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
04 -
Melt caramels and cream in the microwave in 1-minute intervals, stirring until smooth, about 4-5 minutes.
05 -
Scatter chocolate over the baked base, pour the caramel on top, then cover with the rest of the oat mixture.
06 -
Bake for 15-18 minutes until the edges are golden and the middle bubbles up. Let it cool fully, at least four hours or overnight.
# Notes:
01 -
Go for soft caramels—they melt the best.
02 -
Don’t skip cooling; it helps with neat cutting.
03 -
Pop it in the fridge if you're in a hurry.