Description
Salted Caramel Butter Bars are a decadent baked treat featuring a buttery crust topped with a rich, luscious caramel filling and finished with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. This dessert perfectly balances sweetness and saltiness, making it an irresistible indulgence for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crust:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Caramel Filling:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, preferably flaky sea salt
For the Topping:
- 1/4 teaspoon flaky sea salt, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make removal easier.
- Make the Crust: In a bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, and salt. Add the softened unsalted butter and mix until a crumbly dough forms. Press this dough evenly into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake the Crust: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly to prepare for the caramel layer.
- Prepare the Caramel Filling: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Add the brown sugar and sweetened condensed milk, stirring continuously. Let the mixture simmer for 4 to 5 minutes until it thickens.
- Add Flavorings to Caramel: Remove the saucepan from heat. Stir in the vanilla extract and flaky sea salt to enhance the caramel’s flavor profile.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the thickened caramel over the cooled crust, spreading it evenly throughout. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 12 to 15 minutes until the caramel is bubbly and golden.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely before sprinkling with the remaining flaky sea salt. Lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper, then slice into 12 to 16 squares for serving.
Notes
- For best results, use flaky sea salt for both the caramel and topping to maximize texture and flavor contrast.
- Allow the bars to cool completely to ensure clean cutting and proper setting of the caramel layer.
- You can store these bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend suitable for baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Salted Caramel Butter Bars, caramel dessert, baked caramel bars, sweet and salty dessert, buttery crust bars
