Description
These Indulgent Caramel Crush Bars are a nostalgic and delicious dessert featuring a buttery oat crust topped with a rich, gooey caramel filling and a crumbly topping. Perfect for those who love chewy textures combined with sweet, creamy caramel, these bars are easy to make and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Topping
- 1.25 cups butter, melted
- 1.5 cups quick oats
- 2.25 cups all-purpose flour
- 1.5 cups brown sugar
Caramel Filling
- 0.25 cups butter, melted
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 0.25 cups milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons flour
Instructions
- Melt Butter: Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl by heating it for about 1-2 minutes until completely liquefied.
- Prepare Crust Mixture: Combine the melted butter with oats, all-purpose flour, and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. Stir until a crumbly yet sticky mixture forms.
- Form Crust: Press two-thirds of the mixture firmly into the bottom of a greased 9×13 inch pan to create an even base layer.
- Bake Crust: Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then allow it to cool for a few minutes.
- Make Caramel Filling: Melt the remaining butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and stir until the mixture is smooth and glossy.
- Add Liquid Ingredients: Stir in milk, vanilla extract, and flour into the butter and sugar mixture, mixing continuously to create a smooth caramel filling.
- Simmer Filling: Bring the caramel mixture to a gentle boil and let it simmer for 3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Assemble Bars: Pour the hot caramel filling evenly over the cooled crust, spreading it out carefully with a spatula.
- Add Topping: Sprinkle the reserved one-third crust crumb mixture evenly over the caramel filling to form the topping.
- Bake Final Bars: Reduce oven temperature to 300°F (149°C) and bake for an additional 20 minutes.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting into individual bars for serving.
Notes
- Make sure to stir the caramel constantly while simmering to avoid scorching.
- Use a greased pan to prevent sticking and to make removal easier.
- Allowing the bars to fully cool ensures easier cutting and better texture.
- Quick oats are preferred for the texture, but rolled oats may be substituted if needed.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: caramel bars, oat bars, dessert bars, caramel crush bars, easy dessert, baked caramel dessert, chewy bars
