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Chocolate Chip Caramel Crumble Bars have a delicious oatmeal cookie crust, cream cheese filling with chocolate chips and caramel bits, and a cookie crumble top.
Crazy Good Crumble Bars
When I made these Chocolate Chip Caramel Crumble Bars for the very first time, my husband Jack told me that I needed to name them something like, “Crazy Good Crumble Bars” after his first taste.
Ever since – every single time we bake some – as soon as someone new takes a bite, we get asked for the recipe. (They ARE crazy good!)
These easy Chocolate Chip Caramel Crumble bars have an oatmeal cookie bottom with a yummy, sweet cream cheese middle layer. Both semi-sweet chocolate chips and caramel bits are sprinkled over the cream cheese filling, then an oatmeal crumble topping finishes things off.
Once baked, both the chocolate chips and the caramel bits melt slightly into the cream cheese mixture – but you still get a bit of the chewiness from the caramel bits!
These chocolate chip caramel crumble bars are my idea of the perfect bar cookie, and I predict this recipe will become a family favorite at your house too!
Why You’ll Love Chocolate Chip Caramel Crumble Bars
- They are a perfect combination of flavors and textures: oatmeal cookie bottom, cream cheese filling, chocolate chips and caramel, plus sweet crumbles on top.
- These bars are easy to make and can be served warm out of the oven, at room temperature, or chilled.
- You can actually vary this recipe with other mix-ins, such as white chocolate chips, nuts, toffee bits, or jam fillings. See our Oatmeal Cranberry Cheesecake Bars for a completely different variation of this recipe.
Reader Review
“These are delicious…I won 3rd place at the office luncheon today!” -Janet
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
- Oatmeal – This recipe calls for quick oats rather than rolled oats.
- All-Purpose Flour
- Brown Sugar
- Butter – Either salted or unsalted can be used in this recipe.
- Cream Cheese – Use full fat cream cheese in this recipe for the best results. Don’t be tempted to swap in the lighter cream cheese…the texture and taste won’t be the same.
- Granulated Sugar
- Eggs
- Lemon Juice
- Vanilla Extract
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- Kraft Caramel Bits – These are firm, little, chewy caramel bits that soften as they bake, but don’t fully melt. We found them at Walmart, or you can buy them online here. We don’t recommend using caramel chips in this recipe; they won’t have the same texture or taste.
- Non-Stick Cooking Spray
Special Tools You’ll Need
- Various Measuring Cups & Spoons
- 9×13-inch Glass Baking Dish
- Mixer (Stand or Hand)
- Small Bowl
- Wire Rack
- Rubber Scraper/Spatula
- Knife
How do I make Chocolate Chip Caramel Crumble Bars?
- Mix flour, oatmeal, and brown sugar together in a mixing bowl.
- Add softened butter and mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Set aside a portion of the crumb mixture in a small bowl.
- Pour the remaining crumb mixture into a prepared baking dish and press into an even layer. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Mix softened cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, lemon juice, and vanilla and mix again.
- Pour the cream cheese mixture over the baked oatmeal bottom crust and spread evenly to the edges.
- Sprinkle the chocolate chips and caramel bits over the cream cheese layer.
- Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture evenly over the top.
- Bake until set in the middle and the crumbs are lightly golden brown.
- Cool on a wire rack, then refrigerate to firm up.
- Cut into squares for serving.
Cooking Tips & Tricks
Be sure to prepare the baking dish by spraying it well with non-stick cooking spray. This will help ensure that the bars are easy to remove from the baking dish.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use regular (rolled) oats in this recipe? You can, but we suggest that you pulse the oats in a food processor so they are smaller in size. Also note that the texture of the bottom cookie layer may be more chewy.
- How do I store leftovers? Cover and refrigerate for up to four days.
- Can I freeze these bars? We’ve never tried freezing these ourselves, but I think they would hold up well.
Chocolate Chip Caramel Crumble Bars originally appeared on A Family Feast in November 2013. We’ve updated the post and photos but the delicious recipe remains the same.
You’ll might like these other Chocolate Chip Recipes
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Chocolate Chip Caramel Crumble Bars
Chocolate Chip Caramel Crumble Bars have a delicious oatmeal cookie crust, cream cheese filling with chocolate chips and caramel bits, and a cookie crumble top.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened to room temperature
12 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup Kraft Caramel Bits
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13×9-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, stir together the flour, oatmeal, and brown sugar. Add the softened butter to the mixing bowl and mix on medium speed until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Measure out 1½ cups of the crumb mixture and set aside in a separate bowl.
- Pour the remaining crumbs into the prepared baking dish and press evenly into the bottom of the dish. Bake for 15 minutes.
- While the crust is baking, in the same bowl of the stand mixer, cream the softened cream cheese and sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, lemon juice and vanilla extract and mix well.
- When the crust is done baking, remove from the oven and pour the cream cheese mixture evenly over the crust. Sprinkle the chocolate chips and caramel bits evenly over the cream cheese mixture, then finish by sprinkling the reserved oatmeal crumbs over the top of the chocolate chips and caramel bits.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until completely set in the middle of the pan and very lightly golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Cover and refrigerate the baking dish for at least 3 hours so that the bars can firm up.
- Once chilled, cut into bars and serve.
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Jerry Jorden says
Gave these out at work and my coworkers thought they were awesome. The chewy caramel was the best part.
Martha says
So glad you all enjoyed the recipe Jerry!
Jodi says
Yay!!! I was just looking at the packages of Caramel Bits in my pantry and wondering what to make with them! I just checked and I have everything I need, so on to baking!!! Thank you!!
Martha says
You’re very welcome Jodi!
Janet says
I have never heard of caramel bits…I live in a small town and probably don’t have any in my store. Any suggestions for a substitute? These look delightful. Thank you!!!
Martha says
Hi Janet – we found them at Walmart! Otherwise you could replace them with any other type of chip!
Janet says
I do have Walmart here! Thanks so much.
Janet says
P.S. These are delicious! And I won 3rd place at the office luncheon today! Thanks again.
MyThy as in "Mighty" says
Can this be made with regular oats?
Martha says
You can – but pulse the oats in a food processor for a few seconds so they are a little smaller in size.
Melisa says
These look delicious!! Making tomorrow!!!
Martha says
Thanks Melissa! I hope you enjoy the recipe as much as we do!
Melisa says
I made these and they were even better than they look!!! They were gone in a day and half!!
Martha says
So glad you liked them Melisa! I agree…they do taste even better than they look!
Joey says
Wow, I need to stop at the store on the way home cause I want these soon! AND, now I am addicted to your blog. I am so glad I found your web page.
Martha says
Thanks Joey! We’re so glad you found us too! Hope you enjoy the recipe!
tanya says
These look fabulous Martha! You can never go wrong with caramel!
Martha says
Thanks Tanya! I agree!