Caramel Crush Bars
These Caramel Crush Bars combine a buttery oat crust with a silky caramel filling and crumbly topping, delivering a perfect balance of crunchy and gooey in every bite.
Equipment
- 1 9x13-inch baking pan
- 1 large bowl
- 1 saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups quick oats
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups brown sugar
- 1 ¼ cups unsalted butter melted
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Melt 1 ¼ cups butter and mix with oats, flour, and brown sugar in a large bowl until crumbly.
- Press two-thirds of this mixture firmly into a greased 9x13-inch baking pan to form the crust.
- Preheat oven to 325ºF (160ºC) and bake crust for 10 minutes; then cool slightly.
- In a saucepan, melt ¼ cup butter over medium heat, stir in brown sugar until smooth.
- Slowly add milk, vanilla, and flour, stirring constantly; simmer for 3 minutes until thickened and glossy.
- Pour warm caramel evenly over the baked crust.
- Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the caramel for a crumbly topping.
- Reduce oven temperature to 300ºF (150ºC) and bake for 20 minutes until set.
- Allow bars to cool completely before slicing into squares.
Notes
- Do not overcook caramel to avoid brittleness.
- Add chocolate chips or sea salt for variations.
- Store in an airtight container for several days.
- Serve warm with ice cream for extra indulgence.