Caramel Oatmeal Bars

You’ll love this recipe for Caramel Oatmeal Bars because:

• They are made from ingredients that are readily available.
• Like my Lemon Curd Cake, there is minimal effort involved as the base and the crumble topping are made from the same mixture.
• No special equipment is required. After pressing the base into the tin and covering it with richly delicious caramel, you crumble the remaining mixture over the top and bake. Easy and delicious!
• The whole-grain rolled oats give the bars a very pleasing texture, beautifully complemented by the chewy caramel centre and the crisp crumble topping.
• They are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, enjoyed by children and adults alike.
• As they are nut-free, they are perfect for school lunch boxes.

Ingredients in this recipe:

Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

All-purpose/plain flour – this recipe has been tested with regular wheat flour and gluten-free all-purpose flour. Either will work well.

Rolled oats – old-fashioned rolled oats are best for this recipe. Use certified gluten-free if you require.

Salt – use coarse kitchen sea salt to boost the flavours.

Baking/bicarbonate of soda – acts as a raising agent. It is not the same as baking powder.

Butter – adds richness and flavour. We use unsalted butter in the caramel filling as well as the mixture for the base/topping.

Brown sugar – we use light brown sugar; it adds a slight caramel flavour.

Vanilla extract – for the best result, use vanilla, which is naturally extracted, not artificially flavoured.

Sweetened condensed milk – we combine this with unsalted butter and light brown sugar to make a richly delicious caramel filling.

How To Make Caramel Oatmeal Bars:

Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

1 – Make the base/topping mixture:
In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, salt and baking soda. In a smaller bowl, combine the melted butter, brown sugar and vanilla.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well. Reserve approximately ⅓ of the mixture for the topping.

2 – Add the base to your tin:
Press the remaining mixture into your prepared tin and bake in your preheated oven for 12 minutes or until a pale golden colour.

3 – Make the caramel:
While the base is baking, make the caramel. Add the sweetened condensed milk, butter, and brown sugar to a medium saucepan.

Over a medium heat, stir constantly for approximately 8 minutes, until the caramel has thickened slightly and is a light golden colour.

4 – Top the base with the caramel:
Once the base is ready, top immediately with the caramel mixture. Use an offset spatula to spread the caramel evenly, or carefully tilt the tin, whilst using oven mits or a tea towel to protect your hands.

5 – Top the bars with the crumble:
Sprinkle the remaining mixture over the top.

Bake for a further 12-15 minutes, or until the top is cooked through and a light golden brown.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 30 minutes in the tin, before placing in the fridge for a further 30 minutes.

6 – Cut the bars:
Once the slice is cool, use a sharp knife to cut it into nine bars.

Tips for success and FAQs:

The Caramel Oatmeal Bars must chill before being cut. If they are cut whilst they are still warm, they will fall apart. I like to cool them in the tin on the bench for 30 minutes before transferring to the fridge for 30 minutes. Once cooled, they can be cut into bars and enjoyed.

Serving suggestions:

The Caramel Oatmeal Bars are very versatile. Some suggestions to enjoy them are:

• For morning or afternoon tea – delicious with a cup of coffee!
• They are great as an after-school snack.
• As an easy breakfast when time is short.
• They travel well, so are ideal for picnics or potlucks.
• As a welcome edible gift.

I hope these Caramel Oatmeal Crumble Bars become your new favourite sweet treat (like they are mine!) Be sure to let me know in the comments below when you have given them a try – I love hearing from you! Caramel lovers, this one is for you!

Alex xx

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Caramel Oatmeal Bars

These delicious Caramel Oatmeal Bars are likely to become your new favourite recipe. With a crisp base, a sweet, slightly chewy caramel centre, and a crumble topping, this is an easily made sweet snack that the whole family will enjoy. If you love a good, sweet treat that is quick to make, then this recipe is for you - the hardest part is waiting for them to cool down!

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Review

Course: Afternoon Tea, Dessert, Morning Tea

Cuisine: International

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cooling Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 9 bars

Calories: 574kcal

Author: Alexandra Cook - It's Not Complicated Recipes

Please note:

For accuracy, when weights are provided, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results. All oven temperatures listed are for fan forced.

Ingredients

For the Base and Crumble Topping:

• ▢ 1 ½ cup (225 g) all-purpose/plain flour See Note 1
• ▢ 1 ½ cup (120 g) old-fashioned rolled oats See Note 2
• ▢ 1 teaspoon sea salt
• ▢ ½ teaspoon baking/bicarb soda
• ▢ ¾ cup (185 g) unsalted butter - melted
• ▢ ⅓ cup (70 g) light brown sugar
• ▢ 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Caramel Filling:

• ▢ ½ cup (125 g) unsalted butter
• ▢ ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar
• ▢ 395 g (14 oz) can of condensed milk See Note 3

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 175 Degrees C (350F).
• Line a 20 x 20cm (8 x 8 inch) baking dish with non-stick baking paper.

  (Allow an overhang with the baking paper – it makes it easier when removing the slice!)
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, salt and baking soda.
• In a smaller bowl, combine the melted butter, brown sugar and vanilla.
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well.

  Reserve approximately 200g/7 oz of the mixture (about ⅓ of the mixture) for the topping.
• Press the rest of the mixture into your prepared tin, and bake for 12 minutes or until a pale golden colour.
• While the base is baking, make the caramel. Add the sweetened condensed milk, butter and brown sugar to a medium saucepan.
• Over a medium heat, stir constantly for approximately 8 minutes, until the caramel has thickened slightly and is a light golden colour.
• Once the base is ready, top immediately with the caramel mixture – use an offset spatula to ensure the caramel is even.
• Carefully sprinkle the remaining mixture over the top – crumbling it as you go.
• Bake for a further 12-15 minutes, or until the topping is cooked through and a light golden brown.
• Remove from the oven, and allow to cool in the tin on your benchtop 30 minutes, before placing the tin in the fridge for a further 30 minutes.

  Once the slice is cool, it can be cut into nine bars using a sharp knife.

Notes

1. Flour: this recipe has been tested using a gluten-free all-purpose/plain flour.
2. Rolled oats: use certified gluten-free oats along with flour if you require this recipe to be gluten-free.
3. Sweetened Condensed Milk: full fat only. Do not use low fat or skim.
4. Measurements: for the most accurate measurements when baking, we suggest you weigh your ingredients.
5. Chill the bars: the Caramel Bars really need to chill before cutting, otherwise, they will fall apart. 
6. Storage: store in an airtight container in a cool location. The bars will be at their best for the first two days but will last for four (they will just soften a little). If the weather is warm, keep them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week. Remove them about 10 minutes prior to serving.
7. Freezing: allow the bars to cool completely, and then put them in an airtight container before placing them in the freezer.  If storing them in layers, place a sheet of baking paper between the layers so they don’t stick. Thaw them at room temperature. They will keep for two months.

Made this recipe? We'd be so grateful if you could leave a comment and rating at the bottom of the page!

Nutrition Estimate:

Calories: 574kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 385mg | Potassium: 270mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 44g | Calcium: 160mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional Disclaimer:

The nutritional information is an estimate only, and is derived from online calculators. For accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information based on the ingredients and brands you use.