Description
Indulgent Caramel Crush Bars are a nostalgic and delightfully sweet dessert featuring a buttery oat crust topped with a luscious homemade caramel filling. These bars combine a crumbly, textured base with a smooth, rich caramel topping for a perfect treat to share with friends and family. With a total prep and bake time of 50 minutes, they’re an easy and satisfying dessert that brings warmth and comfort to any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 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 1.25 cups of butter in a microwave-safe bowl by heating it for about 1 to 2 minutes until completely liquefied.
- Prepare Crust Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter with quick oats, all-purpose flour, and brown sugar. Stir until the mixture becomes crumbly yet sticky.
- Form Crust: Press two-thirds of the oat mixture evenly into a greased 9×13 inch baking pan to create the crust layer.
- Pre-bake Crust: Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then remove it and let it cool slightly.
- Make Caramel Filling: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the remaining 0.25 cups of butter. Add 1 cup of brown sugar and stir until the mixture becomes smooth and glossy.
- Add Liquids & Flour: Stir in the milk, vanilla extract, and flour continuously to achieve a smooth caramel filling consistency.
- Simmer Filling: Bring the caramel mixture to a gentle boil, then let it simmer for 3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Assemble Bars: Pour the hot caramel filling evenly over the cooled crust in the pan. Spread out with a spatula to cover the crust fully.
- Add Topping: Sprinkle the reserved one-third of the crumb mixture on top of the caramel filling to create a crunchy topping layer.
- Bake Final Bars: Lower the oven temperature to 300°F (149°C) and bake the assembled bars for another 20 minutes.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares for serving.
Notes
- Use quick oats for the best texture in the crust; old-fashioned oats may alter the crumb structure.
- Make sure to stir the caramel filling constantly while simmering to avoid burning and to achieve a smooth texture.
- Allow the bars to cool fully before cutting to prevent them from falling apart.
- This recipe can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- For a richer flavor, consider using dark brown sugar instead of light brown sugar.
- 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 baked dessert, caramel dessert
