![Carmelitas](http://images.ctfassets.net/uw7yiu2kuigc/0240ad136b94713c9288531ae48a3b1edea7da4aa8cb4e13500086f036b49c02/38047b0ffb2f0dc614c488724de0dc16/image.jpg?fit=crop&w=572&h=730&f=top)
Desserts
Carmelitas
Once you finish one of these nutty, oaty, caramely bars, you’ll be reaching for another. So be sure to have a glass of milk — or two — handy before digging in.
Ingredients
FOR THE BASE, COMBINE:
FOR THE CARAMEL, HEAT:
Lining pans with parchment paper before spraying with nonstick spray makes removal of the bars a snap.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper; lightly coat with nonstick spray.
Combine flour, oats, brown sugar, 3⁄4 cup pecans, baking soda, and 1⁄4 tsp. salt; stir in melted butter and mix until clumps form. Press half of crumb mixture into bottom of pan; bake 10 minutes. (Reserve other half of crumbs.)
Heat granulated sugar, water, corn syrup, and 11⁄2 tsp. salt in a large, heavy saucepan oven medium-high until it boils. Cover mixture; boil 2 minutes. Remove lid; boil until caramel is dark amber color, 12–14 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; carefully whisk in cream and 4 Tbsp. butter until butter melts.
Spread chocolate chips over base. Pour 13⁄4 cups caramel over chips and sprinkle reserved crumb mixture evenly over top. Bake bars until lightly browned and edges are bubbly, 20–25 minutes.
Remove bars from oven and let cool; using overhanging parchment paper as handles, remove bars from pan. Rewarm remaining caramel and drizzle over bars. Sprinkle remaining 1⁄4 cup pecans over top of bars. Cover bars and store at room temperature.
![Use overhanging parchment papers to create handles. This will come in handy when the bars are ready to be removed from the pan.](http://images.ctfassets.net/uw7yiu2kuigc/c5b26cef738275f5c828c45d9a20fde64797c18bae97b074d5e89a251d28753e/e5dd35dd632dbcbfd2d239d4cff13171/image1.jpg?fit=crop&w=286&h=365&f=top)
Use overhanging parchment papers to create handles. This will come in handy when the bars are ready to be removed from the pan.
![Add corn syrup to sugar, salt, and water mixture to start making the caramel.](http://images.ctfassets.net/uw7yiu2kuigc/6f0c865cb2a9b73f2ad3d4bc106dc8802ce7b7eb3f1982f629825bbd726e2473/9126b56af9f771ba339a6d96148ed0ef/image2.jpg?fit=crop&w=286&h=365&f=top)
Add corn syrup to sugar, salt, and water mixture to start making the caramel.
![Pour caramel over the mixture to create a firm chewy layer.](http://images.ctfassets.net/uw7yiu2kuigc/b837ff5540cda1accd281e5e52f3cc1e7e22b9a5159bac66d9ae835d3ba7bb1d/0cddf0bac17677af4b34fb933a6c516b/image3.jpg?fit=crop&w=286&h=365&f=top)
Pour caramel over the mixture to create a firm chewy layer.
![Drizzle remaining caramel over bars to add more flavor, and give the bars a beautiful appearance.](http://images.ctfassets.net/uw7yiu2kuigc/db867719a7ed54cd3d122847afe0453747a676195b877055ecc3603d1dba0cf2/0c4ff18f1b8f63081b42f7f7fdbe63c6/image4.jpg?fit=crop&w=286&h=365&f=top)
Drizzle remaining caramel over bars to add more flavor, and give the bars a beautiful appearance.