Home > Recipes > Desserts > Bar Desserts > Oatmeal Carmelita Bars
by Michelle
January 6, 2012 (updated Feb 25, 2019)
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4.34 (18 ratings)[donotprint]
Back to work, back to school, and nothing says easy and portable quite like cookie bars. They are easy to make, and just as easy to wrap up and drop in a lunchbox (or lunch bag, depending on who is taking the treat). If you don’t have kids or don’t need to worry about packing a lunch, then all you need to worry about is that these are just plain fantastic. Nothing complicated here, yet the flavor definitely packs a serious punch. An oatmeal shortbread crust is topped with chocolate and chopped pecans, then a layer of caramel sauce, and then finished off with an oat crumb topping. Hello, heaven.
A little over a year ago a reader, Joelle, emailed me to ask if I had a recipe for carmelita bars, as she had enjoyed one on a recent trip and was dying to recreate them at home. My apologies to Joelle that it has taken me this long to whip them up, but hopefully she feels that they were worth the wait! I know she mentioned that hers had walnuts, while I used pecans in these, but you could easily use either one interchangeably.
I am pretty much a sucker for anything that includes a crumb topping, and these are no exception. Chocolate, nuts, caramel, oats, crumb topping… life doesn’t get much better than that for someone who adores sweets!
One year ago: [/donotprint]
Oatmeal Carmelita Bars
Yield: 24 bars
Prep Time: 20 minutes mins
Cook Time: 25 minutes mins
Total Time: 45 minutes mins
Tasty oatmeal and caramel bars
4.34 (18 ratings)
Print Pin Rate
Ingredients
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) salt
- 1 cup (227 g) butter, at room temperature
- 1½ cups (330 g) light brown sugar
- 2 cups (162 g) quick-cooking oats
- 14 ounces (396.89 g) caramel candies, unwrapped
- ½ cup (128 ml) evaporated milk
- 1 cup (180 g) semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup (99 g) chopped pecans
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish; set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and brown sugar on medium speed until combined and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and slowly add the flour mixture until fully incorporated. Add the oats and mix on low briefly to just combine.
Transfer approximately half of the dough mixture to the baking dish. Spread and press the dough into the baking dish until you have an even layer with no cracks or crumbles. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from oven.
While the dough is baking, combine the evaporated milk and caramels in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir the mixture constantly until all the caramels are melted and you have a thick sauce. Allow to cool until cookie base comes out of the oven.
Once out of the oven, sprinkle the cookie base evenly with chocolate chips and pecans, and then carefully pour the caramel sauce over the cookie base, nuts, and chocolate. Use an offset spatula to spread the caramel sauce into an even layer.
Sprinkle the remaining cookie dough over the top of the caramel-chocolate-nut mixture a handful at a time, making sure to get an even coating over the whole dish.
Return the dish to the oven, baking until the topping is lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
Once out of the oven, cool the dish to room temperature and then refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight. Cut into 2-inch squares and serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Calories: 316kcal, Carbohydrates: 41g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 23mg, Sodium: 197mg, Potassium: 156mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 27g, Vitamin A: 345IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 75mg, Iron: 2.4mg
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
Author: Michelle
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Originally published January 6, 2012 — (last updated February 25, 2019)
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80 Comments on “Oatmeal Carmelita Bars”
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Judy O. — Reply
I did make these, and while they were delicious I think next time I will use a smaller pan than the 9×13 one. I like the bars a bit thicker in size. Or maybe double the filling in the next one. But they tasted like a really good shortbread crust with all the sweetness of the semi-sweet morsels and yummy caramel sauce!
I used a bag of the Kraft Caramel bits with heavy whipping cream…YUMOLICIOUS,!! 👍🏼👍🏼 -
Donna B — Reply
For some unknown reason, everyone thought these bars were tasteless. I used a whole bag of Kraft caramels, finely chopped walnuts, and Hershey’s milk chocolate chips in my bars. I used unsalted butter, but 1/2 teaspoon of salt instead of a 1/4 teaspoon to boost up the flavor.
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Donna Bardocz — Reply
These are very tasty! Cut your squares small as they are quite rich! My stepmother always made these at Christmastime and I always loved them. Brought back that nostalgic feeling when I took a bite. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
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julie t. — Reply
First off, they have downsized the caramels bag. It is now 11 oz instead of 14 oz.
I found the bars to be a little too dry and crumbly but loved the ratio of caramel/choc to the oatmeal mixture and the caramel stays nice and soft. I will make again but next time add 1-2 TBL more softened butter to oatmeal mixture.
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Desi food — Reply
OMG Carmelita Bars !! If I made, then will always eat them! thank you so much for sharing this recipe :)
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Zena — Reply
I tried Carmelita bars at Whole Foods for the first time this past weekend and they were amazing! I can’t WAIT to try this recipe! One question – I notice you say to use a baking dish, not baking pan? As most bar recipes call for a metal pan, I just wanted to be sure to use a glass dish in this case.
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Michelle — Reply
Hi Zena, You can use either a metal baking pan or a glass baking dish (like Pyrex) – both will work. Enjoy!
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Jen — Reply
I tried these, and they were so yummy I’m featuring them on my blog tomorrow! Thanks for the super yummy recipe! :)
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Cynthia — Reply
Just baked up a batch of these for church using 14 ounces of your Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce in place of the Kraft caramels and evaporated milk. To quote my husband, who snagged two on the way out the door, “oh my . . . oh, oh my . . . ” HIghly recommended substitution!
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Khanum — Reply
Thanks for sharing! But I have a big question. The time in the oven you suggested did not leave me a good result b/c the dough mixture was too light and didn’t seem “baked” completely. So I added more time (7 addt’l min) and that just made them too crunchy…Any suggestions?
Just like you, I first had these at Whole Foods and fell in love for them right away. My kids absolutely love them! I also tried the other recipe posted on youtube and the result was the same as with your recipe…not sure how to fix that. Thanks in advance!-
Michelle — Reply
Hi Khanum, Maybe try somewhere in the middle between the stated time and 7 extra minutes? Also make sure that your oven temperature is correct (you can purchase an oven thermometer for as little as $10).
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Teri Bee — Reply
Made these for a church picnic today and won 2nd place…SO delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe :-)
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Jennifer Griffin-Kennedy — Reply
The first time I ever tried a Carmelita was at Wholefoods in Fresno, CA! I fell in love with them and tried to find a recipe for them. Didnt have much luck with that until now! I just happened to stumble across your recipe today!!! Thank you soooo much!!!!
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mouna — Reply
i was just wondering what can i use instead of caramel squares because i cant find therm in the uk?
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Michelle — Reply
Hi Mouna, If you have any type of packaged caramel candies, I would use those. If you do not, then you can make a homemade caramel sauce.
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Rebekah G. — Reply
These are a recipe from the Cook Tv channel and featured on Kaseys Essentials. Her recipe is a bit different and include an incredibly easy & delicious homemade caramel sauce. I have made them and they were a major hit! These sound good too, but i prefer the homemade caramel and to answer someone elses question, yes it is 1.5 cups of caramel to replace the candies. :-)
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Juanita — Reply
Has anyone every made these using the salted caramel sauce? Just wondering since I love the flavor of salted caramel, but not sure if it is the right consistency for this recipe.
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Rebekah G. — Reply
The recipe I found and used and commented about (Kaseys Essentials on Cook TV) uses a homemade salted caramel sauce. I used it and it worked well. She adds 2 tablespoons flour to the caramel before pouring it over the chocolate and pecans. The consistency is perfect, but next time I’ll reduce the amount of salt a little bit. Hope that helps.
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wendyb964 — Reply
My goodness! Haven’t seen a recipe for these since I was in college,um,lots of years ago. They were my fav then though I never made them when my kids were little. Ate one from Whole Foods Mkt. which was disappointingly sweet. Thanks for the reminder of wicked good carmelitas. A year ago I purchased a 5# block of caramel from a local candy/cake store. The owner said it lasted a long time: this winter I melted what I had left, used some, and stored the remainding in two zip lock bags. Will have to make again this weekend. Thanks!
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Kendra (Joelle's sister) — Reply
Just wanted to report back after making these — they were a huge hit! I used caramel bits, which come in an 11oz bag, so I needed to buy two bags. To avoid having leftover caramel bits, I made a recipe-and-a-half, which uses up both bags and fits perfectly in a 10×15 pyrex!
Thank you again for posting this recipe, Michelle!
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khaytlen — Reply
Thanks for letting us know how that went. Kraft caramels are hard to find in Australia and very expensive. So, good to see that I can use caramel bits, which we can get here.
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Andrea (Quest for Delish) — Reply
I made these yesterday and me and my family are devouring them. I was so happy I blogged about them today. Check it out when you have a chance. Thanks for sharing.
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Michelle — Reply
I’m so happy you enjoyed these bars! They quickly became one of our favorites too!
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RisaG — Reply
I have got to try these BUT I would have to substitute some other type of rolled grain for the oats and pumpkin seeds for the nuts as my son is allergic to oats and nuts. Mainly almonds but I am not taking any chances. I also have the newer Caramel Bits that Kraft makes and measure out 14 oz.
I will try the recipe with the adaptations and let you know what we thought of them. First we have to finish the S’Mores Krispy Treats I made my son for Valentine’s Day and the Peanut Butter Cup Bars I made for hubby.
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Callie — Reply
ok…these were just awesome. Pretty sure a few people fell in love with me when I made them. Yum. And even better the second day! Never, ever have had a bad recipe from you ! THANK YOU! Keep em coming. :) -callie
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Dena — Reply
I made these this weekend and they were delicious! Everyone that tried them loved them! Thanks for the great recipe!
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Shelly Knight — Reply
I made these with the caramel sauce from this recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/caramel-shortbread-squares/
It made them a bit more complicated, but I had the ingredients on hand, rather than needing to buy a bag of caramels. I doubled the caramel sauce recipe and I will try it single next time. These are a huge hit in the lunchboxes so will definitely be made again!
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Lisa Williams — Reply
I made these yesterday afternoon and they were ready just in time for our Sunday dinner dessert. They we fabulous!
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Family Meals and Cooking Tips — Reply
I love a good lunchbox idea (for me and the kids!!) so these look like just the ticket. The crumb topping looks amazing. I can’t wait to try these out.
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Barbara — Reply
De-licious! I like that they stayed together and didn’t crumble apart.
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Eftychia — Reply
I was looking for a recipe like this one. Thank you so much for sharing. My kids will love them
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Lottie @ Lottiesworldofcakes — Reply
I like the sound of these!
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beti — Reply
they look so crunchy, soft and chewy at the same time!
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Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes — Reply
These are right up my alley ! LOVE IT!
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Holly — Reply
Oddly enough I had all the ingredients to make these. They are fantastic! They remind me of a grown up version of the 7 layer bars everyone makes at Christmas time. Love, love, love! Seriously amazing. Thank you!
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Mackenzie@The Caramel Cookie — Reply
These look great to go with lunch this week!
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Ann — Reply
Oh, hello heaven is right! These are nothing short of spectacular!
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Kendra — Reply
Hooray! I’m Joelle’s sister and I’ve been looking forward to these, too! Thanks so much for this recipe, and all the wonderful blogging you do throughout the year!
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Joelle N. — Reply
Thanks, Michelle, for your post! The wait was well worth it — you are a woman who stands by your word! You made my year and I truly hope that your readers love these carmelitas as much as I do. I no longer need to drive up to The Model Bakery in Napa to get these delicious treats! Cheers!
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bergamot — Reply
These look lovely. I have some caramel chips, wondering if I could use them instead in this recipe.
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Michelle — Reply
Hmm I have never seen or used caramel chips, so I couldn’t give a definitive yes or no, but if they melt down into a sauce-like consistency then I think you could give it a go.
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Jen at The Three Little Piglets — Reply
Oh my! Forget lunch, I’d eat these for breakfast!!
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Catherine Daugherty — Reply
Thanks for this recipe! The sugar bowl and I have parted ways (under duress) and so I am baking vicariously through you! Thanks for the recipe. I re-posted with a link back to you!
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Rebekah @ Making Miracles — Reply
I am stuck on bedrest and can’t cook or bake right now – but I want to make these!! They look so tasty!! :)
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Jessica S — Reply
OMG! Those look amazing!
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modernworkinggirl — Reply
Yum. It’s the abundance of oats that gets me!
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Steph@stephsbitebybite — Reply
Holy smokes! I think these just got me excited to get back to “normal life” :)
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leslie — Reply
mmmm.caramel and chocolate..nothing better
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Ally — Reply
Oh my… these look & sound amazing!!!
xo
http://www.allykayler.blogspot.com -
Dana@TheSundaySweet — Reply
I absolutely love carmilitas! I haven’t seen a post about them in a long time. Now I’m going to have to dig up my recipe and head to the kitchen.
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Connie the Cookie Monster — Reply
anything with caramel is heavenly!!
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amanda @ fake ginger — Reply
Ooh, I want one of these immediately! They look scrumptious!
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gretchen — Reply
I make these and the recipe I have is different. Yjou use a jar of Smukers Caramel Ice Cream topping and mix in 1/4 cup flour. No need to heat it and the recipe does not call for evaporated milk. It is also alot cheaper then buying the caramel candy.
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Christina @ Sweet Peas Kitchen — Reply
Oh yeah!! These look amazing! I love that the recipe calls for caramel candies! As I unwrap them I will put one in the pan and one in my mouth! ;)
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missy — Reply
Oh, these are lovely!
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susan — Reply
If I were to make homemade caramel, how much caramel sauce do you think I should use to replace the 14 caramel candies? Should it be room temperature before I pour it on?
Thanks!
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Michelle — Reply
Hi Susan, I’d estimate about 1.5 cups of sauce.
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susan —
Thanks!
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Tina — Reply
Mmmm! This looks like an excellent recipe for the church bake sale this weekend! Can’t wait to try them.
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Peggy — Reply
I’d say that these were definitely worth the wait! Oh man, my only regret is that I don’t have one in front of me right now =)
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Emilie @ Emilie's Enjoyables — Reply
YUM. I love bar cookies, they are the best!
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Courtney @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. — Reply
Ummm…you had me at oatmeal shortbread crust.
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Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar — Reply
Mmm I love a good caramel bar!
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Deb — Reply
I was intrigued by the name Carmelita Bars. I had never heard of them and can see this is a serious omission on my part! What could be a better cookie for winter, than oatmeal and caramel? Thanks for sharing.
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Cookbook Queen — Reply
Will you believe that I have never made Carmelitas? But I know I would LOOOOVE them!! These look great, love the use of pecans!!
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i have had these bars and love them! Great photos as usual!
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Ali B — Reply
I’ve never heard of carmelita bars before but they look delicious! I love anything with caramel and the oatmeal makes these bars healthy right….?
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Melanee — Reply
To make these easier, use the really good Mrs. Richardson butterscotch caramel sauce (in a glass jar as an ice cream topping). It is rich, thick sauce and can easily just be eaten with a spoon solo. It would be a cheater step. Also, roasting nuts in the oven brings out more flavor in them (Foodtv taught me that – and it is true!). Awesomeness in a bar — that is what these are. With teenagers, these will disappear in the blink of an eye ( I have three — and I am being serious!). What a perfect Friday recipe!!
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Lindsay @ The Live-In Kitchen — Reply
Obviously, yum! Everything should have caramel sauce, don’t you think?!
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sue@ cakeballs, cookies and more — Reply
they sure look good!
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Sandra — Reply
I will surely have to add in more exercise when I make these.
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I just got to work for the day but all I want to do now is go home and make these bars. Yummmm! Just pinned them on Pinterest so I’ll remember them for another time :)
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Oh yum! These bars looks fantastic!!! I need to do some baking this weekend! Nothing like a quick, grab and go bar and it’s healthy too because there’s oatmeal in it! :) he he
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Sommer@ASpicyPerspective — Reply
Michelle… those look ridiculously good! Oatmeal is a breakfast food, I can have them for breakfast, right???
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Lauren at Keep It Sweet — Reply
I am a huge fan of carmelita bars and would love to have a batch of these around:-)
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Kiri W. — Reply
Oh man, the only thing better with caramel than chocolate is crumbly oats. Well, maybe oats AND chocolate, but I’m still dying for these bars! Looks delicious!!
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Choc Chip Uru — Reply
If I made these, I would never stop eating them – why do you keep putting my favourite ingredients together my friend :)
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CouponClippingCook — Reply
I for sure couldn’t stop at eating just one of these. They sound delicious.
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Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga — Reply
These look phenomenal. I have seen a few recipes for carmelitas bars recently and I’m dying to make some. Love.Caramel.
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Deborah — Reply
I have made something similar – and love them!! Now I’m wishing I had one for my nighttime treat. :)
