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Making Tuesday a little more special and sweet with these Gooey Chocolate Oatmeal Bars. These easy homemade oatmeal cookie bars with chocolate chunks and a warm gooey “caramel” like center are the perfect way to bring something delicious to the average weekday. They’re made with a mix of pantry ingredients…oats, flour, butter, maple, vanilla, and a reduced amount of sugar. Most importantly, everyone LOVES these bars…they’re easy to make, difficult to mess up…and they always turn out GREAT!
So, originally these were going to be last Friday’s dessert, but then at the last minute, I panicked and convinced myself that no-one would care about oatmeal bars. NO ONE. So I switched things up…and I LOVE the caramel cake I created so much. Like so much, it’s one of my favorite cakes. I’m so happy I came up with it.
But the funny thing? I sent the oatmeal bars I had made home for my family to enjoy. The next morning, all I heard about from every last person currently staying at their house was just how delicious they were.
I mean, I knew they were good, but I have to say I was a little shocked. Someone even said that these bars are their new favorite dessert. Sooo, I clearly needed to rethink my stance on these bars. And now? With pretty photos and a very ooey-gooey dessert bar to share…I AM EXCITED.
I think it was all meant to play out this way. We got cake on Friday, which was perfect. And easy, sweet oatmeal bars on Tuesday, which feels very right to me.
The Back Story
My mom would often bake up oatmeal cookies. These bars totally remind me of something she’d bake up on Friday nights. They feel very “old school”, just like Friday’s cake and I’m loving it.
The idea is based on the dessert bars known as Carmelitas…oatmeal bars with chocolate chips and caramel in the center. I don’t love, love caramel. Especially the overly sugary store-bought candies. So instead of using real caramel, I used my trusty maple-based “caramel” sauce. It’s just as good but much less sugary. And to be honest? We think it’s better than real caramel.
So I put my maple-based caramel in the middle of the oatmeal bars and created my own version of Carmelitas.
Not only are these really easy to make, but they’re a true delight. Especially if you have the privilege of enjoying one warm, right out of the oven. DELICIOUS.
Here are the simple details.
This recipe requires just one bowl, a pot, and a couple of spoons. It’s completely no-fuss. Start to finish these will take less than an hour. You can’t mess these bars up. They’re that easy and they always turn out great.
In your mixing bowl combine all of the dry ingredients. Now, add all of the wet ingredients. Mix away until you have a crumbly dough. Stir in plenty of dark chocolate chunks, then press about half the dough into a baking dish. Bake for a bit to help the bottom layer set.
While that layer is baking, make the gooey layer. I use maple for sweetness, butter for creaminess, and a pinch of salt to create a silky, smooth, sweet, and salty sauce. As soon as the bottom layer has finished baking, pour over the gooey sauce, then crumble on the remaining dough.
Now finish the baking…
Smell the wonderfulness? Do you see the melty chocolate?
I know that nothing is perfect, but these bars are pretty close. Every bite is just perfectly sweet, chocolatey, and very gooey. When you eat them a little warm, they’re truly addicting. Fair warning…the salt on top really does keep you going back for seconds and thirds.
What I love about these sweet bars is that they’re so easy to make. They require no chilling and truly take almost no time at all. AND…I usually have these ingredients on hand. So when it’s Friday night and the urge for a deliciously warm chocolatey treat comes on? These bars are easy to mix up and deliciously satisfy the urge.
They’re great for all these cold, cold snowy days many of us have been having! This is very cheesy of me to say, but they’ll really warm you right up!
Looking for other easy winter desserts? Here are some favorites.
Healthier Baked Hot Chocolate Doughnuts
5 Minute Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread Mug Cake
Lastly, if you make these Gooey Chocolate Oatmeal Bars be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Gooey Chocolate Oatmeal Bars
Servings: 12 bars
Calories Per Serving: 311 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup melted coconut oil or butter
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup dark chocolate chunks or chips
Gooey Caramel
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup real maple syrup
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line an 8×8 inch square baking dish with parchment paper. 2. In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the oatmeal, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, butter, eggs, and vanilla. Beat until the dough is moist and all the ingredients are combined. The dough will be crumbly. Mix in the chocolate chunks. Press half of the dough evenly into the bottom of a prepared baking dish. Bake 10 minutes.3. Meanwhile, make the "caramel". In a medium pot, melt together the butter, brown sugar, and maple over medium heat. Gently boil, stirring constantly until thickened, about 5-8 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in a pinch of salt. 4. Remove the bars from the oven and pour the caramel over top. Crumble on the remaining oatmeal dough. Bake another 15 to 20 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Let cool completely, then cut into bars…or eat them while warm and gooey with a sprinkle of sea salt on top.
This post was originally published on February 23, 2021
These look amazing! I was thinking of subbing coconut sugar for brown sugar. Do you think, in the caramel, coconut oil might work in place of the butter as well?
Hey Laura,
So sorry I do not think coconut oil and coconut sugar will give you the same results for this recipe. I hope you love the bars, let me know how they turn out! xTieghan
Ooh, I need to make these today! Is the brown sugar used in the gooey caramel dark brown? It doesn’t specify but in the prior recipe you state light brown.
Hey Patti,
For this recipe I used light brown sugar. I hope you love the bars, let me know how they turn out! xTieghan
I love oatmeal cookies more than most, and these sound delicious. Making this week!
I hope you love the recipe Daphne! xTieghan
Yes. Perfect. More oatmeal. And, fruit desserts…citrus”…..
Thanks Joyce! xTieghan
In step 3 you reference baking powder, which I don’t see listed as an ingredient. ThanksM. LOVE your recipes!
Hey Aimee,
Sorry for the confusion, there is no baking powder in the caramel sauce, the recipe has been fixed:) I hope you enjoy the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Sounds delicious! I don’t see the “baking powder” listed in ingredients that goes into caramel sauce? Thank you!
Hey Posy,
Sorry for the confusion, there is no baking powder in the caramel sauce, the recipe has been fixed:) I hope you enjoy the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
These sound delicious. I will be making them this weekend.
Thanks Kim! I hope you love the recipe:) xTieghan
Do you mean baking soda instead of baking powder in the caramel? I have never heard of putting baking powder into caramel. What is the purpose of baking powder with caramel?
Please advise…
Hey Stephanie,
So sorry for the confusion, there is no baking powder in the caramel sauce. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
How much baking powder do we stir into the caramel sauce in Step #3? These look delicious! Thank you!
Hey Serena,
So sorry for the confusion, there is no baking powder in the caramel sauce, the recipe has been adjusted. I hope you love them! xTieghan
Hello! Can I make these without the caramel center and would I need to change anything else in the ingredients?
Hey Brittany,
You can just simply skip the caramel sauce, I would recommend baking for 25-28 minutes. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
These bars look fantastic. Can’t wait to try it.
Thanks so much!! xTieghan
There’s no baking powder or salt in the list of ingredients for the caramel but the directions say to stir those in at the end. Just wondering what the measurements are for those. Thanks!
Hey Melissa,
Sorry for the confusion, the recipe has been adjusted. There is no baking powder in the caramel sauce. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
How much baking powder do you add to the maple caramel sauce? It’s missing from the ingredients list.
Thanks!
Hey Amy,
Sorry for the confusion, there is no baking powder in the caramel sauce. I hope you love the recipe. Let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan, can’t wait to try this recipe!
For the oats, what is the difference between Old Fashioned and other regular Oats? Would ‘quick’ oats also work?
Thanks x
Hey Emma,
Rolled oats (old-fashioned), are the oat groats steamed and rolled into flakes. This means the oils are stabilized, and the oats stay fresh longer. Quick oats are cut into more pieces, rolled thinner, and steamed longer. They will not have as much texture as the rolled oats. For this recipe, it is important to use old fashioned oats. I hope you love the recipe, let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I love that these are a version of carmelita bars but less sweet. How much baking power goes into the caramel sauce?
Hey Sandy,
Sorry for the confusion, there is not baking powder in the caramel sauce. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan