Description
Soft, chewy, and irresistibly rich, these Carmelita Cookies are packed with oats, semisweet chocolate chips, and gooey swirls of melted caramel. Perfect for holidays, bake sales, or cozy weekends at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup soft caramel bits or chopped caramels
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt caramel bits with heavy cream in 30-second intervals until smooth. Let cool slightly.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well.
- In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually mix into the wet ingredients.
- Stir in oats and chocolate chips.
- Gently swirl in cooled caramel—don’t overmix.
- Scoop dough into 2-tablespoon mounds, spacing 2 inches apart on baking sheets.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes until edges are golden and centers are just set.
- Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Notes
- Don’t overbake; the centers should look slightly underdone.
- Use flaky sea salt on top before baking for a salted caramel twist.
- Dark chocolate or white chocolate can be used in place of semisweet chips.
- Freeze dough for up to 3 months for quick, ready-to-bake treats.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: carmelita cookies, gooey caramel cookies, oatmeal chocolate cookies, cookie bar recipe, soft chewy cookies