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Chocolate Chip Caramel Bars

Chocolate chip caramel bars with a buttery oat base, a hot caramel center, and a golden crumble topping. Baked at 350°F until set, then finished with flaky sea salt for crisp-sweet contrast.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 24 bars
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 330
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Bar base and topping (same dough)
  • 2.5 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup brown sugar packed
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 1.5 cup unsalted butter melted
Caramel filling
  • 1 cup caramel sauce store-bought or homemade
  • 3 tbsp heavy cream
Topping
  • 1.5 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 0.25 tsp flaky sea salt for sprinkling

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep and form the base
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper so the bars lift out cleanly.
  2. Mix all-purpose flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt, then drizzle in melted unsalted butter and toss until the mixture looks evenly moistened.
  3. Press 2/3 of the oat-butter mixture firmly into the lined pan.
  4. Bake the base for 10 minutes at 350°F, until it looks slightly set.
Fill and add topping
  1. Whisk caramel sauce and heavy cream until smooth, then pour over the hot base.
  2. Scatter semi-sweet chocolate chips over the caramel, then crumble the remaining dough on top.
  3. Bake for 20-22 minutes at 350°F, until the topping is golden and the caramel looks set around the edges.
Cool and slice
  1. Sprinkle the top with flaky sea salt while warm.
  2. Cool completely before slicing so the caramel layer firms up for clean bar squares.

Notes

Pro tip: press the base firmly and evenly so it bakes into a cohesive layer that won’t crumble when you cut. Store airtight at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate up to 7 days; freeze bars up to 2 months. Dietary swap: use a gluten-free 1:1 flour blend in place of all-purpose flour if desired (check oats are certified gluten-free).