Oatmeal Carmelitas

Upon the discovery that my last few posts were getting pretty "nutritiony" (a tendency among nutrition students to tout foods for their nutritional benefits rather than, well...tasting good), I have decided to offer up an oat recipe that speaks to my sweet tooth rather than my health-conscious mind.

Oatally Awesome does some fantastic things with oats. Like Oatmeal Carmelitas. Caution: This is not work appropriate. You WILL be caught drooling at your desk. Just sayin'.

 

Oatmeal Carmelitas (from Oatally Awesome) adapted from With Love & Butter

makes 36 bars

1½ cups (3 sticks) butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 cups flour
2 cups oats (quick or old-fashioned)
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
1½ cups chocolate chips
½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1 cup honey
½ cup cream

Preheat oven to 375° with the rack in the center position.  Butter a 9×13-inch baking pan.

Cream the butter and brown sugar together with an electric mixer.  Add the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt and combine. Set aside 1/3 of the dough.  Press the remaining dough evenly into the buttered baking pan.  Bake for 10-15 minutes.  The crust should be barely brown.  Leave the oven on. Scatter the chocolate chips and walnuts over the hot crust.

Now blob the reserved dough as evenly as you can on top of the chocolate and nuts.

Combine the honey and cream.  Heat in the microwave or on the stove until hot but not boiling.
Pour the honey cream sauce over the dough and bake 15 to 20 minutes.  The bars will be done when they turn a uniformly rich golden color.  Cool and cut.


OK. I give up. My brain couldn't stay out of this one. If this recipe looks like heaven on earth to you but you can't bring yourself to bake anything with 3 sticks of butter in it, let alone even have them in your kitchen...this adaptation is for you. For the rest of you who want your carmelitas true to form, stick with the original.

Adapted Version:
½ cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
½ cup applesauce, unsweetened
½ cup pumpkin puree
2/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup regular flour, 1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups oats (quick or old-fashioned)
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
1½ cups chocolate chips
½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted
1 cup honey
½ cup light cream


Preparation is same as above!