Soy Free Carmelitas

1 1/2 C homemade caramel sauce (recipe follows)
1 1/2 C butter, melted
1 1/2 C brown sugar, packed
2 C unbleached flour
2 C quick oats
2 tsp baking soda
 8-10 oz guittard milk chocolate chips

 To make the Carmelitas:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium bowl, mix flour and baking soda.  In a large bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, flour/b. soda combo, and oats.  Stir until well combined. Divide dough in 2/3-1/3 ratio approximately.  Press 2/3 portion into a greased 9x13 casserole dish. Bake for 10 minutes. 

Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips as desired evenly over the crust.  Then pour caramel sauce on top of chocolate chips.  Then sprinkle remained dough evenly over the top.  Return to oven and bake for an additional 15-17 minutes.  It is done when lightly browned on top.  Let cool completely before cutting and serving.  This is an amazing dessert!


To make the Caramel Sauce:
2 C brown sugar
1 C Karo light corn syrup
1 C butter
1 Can sweetened and condensed milk
1/2 tsp real vanilla

In a medium sized sauce pan, melt butter over medium heat.  When butter is melted, stir in brown sugar until incorporated.  Then add karo syrup and stir constantly and slowly until it comes to a boil.  Then turn heat to low and add sweetened and condensed milk and stir for 1-3 minutes.  Remove from heat and add 1/2 tsp real vanilla.  This is perfect for caramel popcorn or this recipe for Carmelitas.  For the Carmelitas you will need about 1 1/2 cups...it really just depends on how much you want to pour on.:)