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Caramel Crush Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 117 reviews

Caramel Crush Bars are a delightful layered dessert featuring a buttery oat crust topped with a rich, homemade caramel filling and a crumbly oat topping. These bars combine a tender, slightly crunchy base with a smooth and sweet caramel center, finished off with a crisp crumble that bakes to perfection. Perfect for a comforting treat or potluck dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust:

  • 1 1/2 cups quick oats
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups butter

Filling:

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour

Instructions

  1. Melt Butter for Crust: Fully melt 1 1/4 cups butter in a saucepan or microwave to prepare it for mixing with dry ingredients.
  2. Mix Crust Ingredients: Combine melted butter with 1 1/2 cups quick oats, 2 1/4 cups flour, and 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, mixing thoroughly to form a crumbly dough.
  3. Form and Bake Base: Press about two-thirds of the crust mixture evenly into a greased 9×13-inch pan (optionally lined with parchment paper). Bake in a preheated 325ºF oven for 10 minutes. Remove and allow to cool completely.
  4. Reserve Remaining Crust Mixture: Set aside the remaining one-third of the crust mixture to be used later as the topping.
  5. Prepare Caramel Filling – Melt Butter: While the crust is baking, melt 1/4 cup butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
  6. Add Brown Sugar to Filling: Stir in 1 cup brown sugar until smooth, which should take about one minute.
  7. Add Milk, Vanilla, and Flour: Gradually add 1/4 cup milk, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons flour to the saucepan, stirring well after each addition to combine evenly.
  8. Cook Filling to Thicken: Bring the mixture to a gentle boil while stirring continuously. Maintain the boil for about 3 minutes until the filling thickens.
  9. Remove Filling from Heat: Once thickened, take the saucepan off the heat to prevent overcooking.
  10. Pour Filling Over Crust: When the crust has cooled enough to the touch, evenly pour the caramel filling over the base layer in the pan.
  11. Add Topping: Sprinkle the reserved one-third portion of the crust mixture evenly over the caramel layer, creating the crumb topping.
  12. Bake Bars Again: Reduce oven temperature to 300ºF. Bake the assembled bars for an additional 20 minutes.
  13. Cool and Set: Bars will appear slightly runny coming out of the oven but will firm up as they cool completely before serving.

Notes

  • Allow the bars to cool fully before cutting to ensure clean slices and proper set of the caramel.
  • Using parchment paper in the pan makes removal and cleanup easier.
  • If you prefer, substitute vanilla extract with vanilla bean paste for a richer flavor.
  • Quick oats are recommended for texture; avoid instant oats which may become mushy.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.

Keywords: Caramel bars, oat crust dessert, caramel crush bars recipe, layered dessert bars, homemade caramel bars

Find it online: https://ricoloranz.com/caramel-crush-bars-recipe/