Chocolate Chip Caramel Oat Bars
Chocolate Chip Caramel Oat Bars
Ingredients
For the Oat Crumble
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups oats
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/4 cups butter, melted
For the Filling
- 2 cups chocolate chips, a mix of semi-sweet and milk chocolate
- 1 cup peanuts, chopped
- 1 bottle caramel ice cream topping, (approximately 1 3/4 cups or 428 ml)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350
- 2
In a large bowl, combine the 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 cups of oats, 1 1/2 cups of packed brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Mix briefly to combine the dry ingredients.
⏱️ 2 min
- 3
Pour the 1 1/4 cups of melted butter into the dry mixture. Use a fork to work the butter into the dry ingredients until a crumbly texture forms. This mixture will be used for both the base and the topping.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
Press about 60% (a little more than half) of the crumbly oat mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared 9x13 inch baking pan. Reserve the remaining mixture for the topping.
⏱️ 3 min
- 5
Bake the pressed base in the preheated oven for 8 minutes, until lightly golden.
⏱️ 8 min•🌡️ 350
- 6
While the base is pre-baking, prepare the caramel. In a separate bowl, pour the entire bottle of caramel ice cream topping. Add 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour to the caramel and stir well until fully combined and the caramel is slightly thickened.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Remove the pan from the oven (keep the oven on). Evenly sprinkle the 2 cups of chocolate chips over the pre-baked base. Then, sprinkle the 1 cup of chopped peanuts over the chocolate chips.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Drizzle the thickened caramel mixture evenly over the chocolate and nut layer. Use a spoon to gently spread the caramel to ensure it covers all the toppings.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Evenly sprinkle the remaining 40% (the reserved portion) of the crumbly oat mixture over the caramel layer.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the caramel is bubbly.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 350
- 11
Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting into squares and serving. This cooling process is crucial for the bars to set properly.
⏱️ 60 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Chocolate Chip Caramel Oat Bars
Ingredients
For the Oat Crumble
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups oats
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/4 cups butter, melted
For the Filling
- 2 cups chocolate chips, a mix of semi-sweet and milk chocolate
- 1 cup peanuts, chopped
- 1 bottle caramel ice cream topping, (approximately 1 3/4 cups or 428 ml)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350 - 2
In a large bowl, combine the 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 cups of oats, 1 1/2 cups of packed brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Mix briefly to combine the dry ingredients.
⏱️ 2 min - 3
Pour the 1 1/4 cups of melted butter into the dry mixture. Use a fork to work the butter into the dry ingredients until a crumbly texture forms. This mixture will be used for both the base and the topping.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
Press about 60% (a little more than half) of the crumbly oat mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared 9x13 inch baking pan. Reserve the remaining mixture for the topping.
⏱️ 3 min - 5
Bake the pressed base in the preheated oven for 8 minutes, until lightly golden.
⏱️ 8 min•🌡️ 350 - 6
While the base is pre-baking, prepare the caramel. In a separate bowl, pour the entire bottle of caramel ice cream topping. Add 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour to the caramel and stir well until fully combined and the caramel is slightly thickened.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Remove the pan from the oven (keep the oven on). Evenly sprinkle the 2 cups of chocolate chips over the pre-baked base. Then, sprinkle the 1 cup of chopped peanuts over the chocolate chips.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Drizzle the thickened caramel mixture evenly over the chocolate and nut layer. Use a spoon to gently spread the caramel to ensure it covers all the toppings.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Evenly sprinkle the remaining 40% (the reserved portion) of the crumbly oat mixture over the caramel layer.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the caramel is bubbly.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 350 - 11
Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting into squares and serving. This cooling process is crucial for the bars to set properly.
⏱️ 60 min