Description
Salted caramel butter bars deliver a heavenly blend of sweet and salty sensations that dance across taste buds. Rich buttery layers meld with smooth caramel, creating an irresistible dessert you’ll crave long after the last delectable crumb disappears.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
Sweet Enhancers:
- 1 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)
Seasoning:
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Prepare the baking workspace by lining an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper and heating the oven to 350F (175C).
- Blend softened butter with brown and granulated sugars using an electric mixer until the mixture becomes airy and pale.
- Incorporate flour and sea salt into the butter mixture, mixing until a slightly crumbly texture forms.
- Transfer approximately two-thirds of the dough into the prepared pan, gently pressing to create an even base layer.
- Warm the caramel sauce until it reaches a smooth, pourable consistency.
- Carefully drizzle and spread the caramel sauce across the dough base, ensuring uniform coverage.
- Sprinkle the remaining dough over the caramel layer, creating a rustic, crumbly topping.
- Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, watching for golden-brown edges as an indicator of doneness.
- Remove from oven and allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature before cutting into squares.
Notes
- Adjust butter temperature carefully to ensure smooth, creamy texture without overbeating.
- Use high-quality caramel sauce or homemade for richer, more intense flavor profile.
- Create gluten-free version by substituting all-purpose flour with almond or coconut flour blend.
- Enhance salt balance by using flaky sea salt as a final garnish just before serving for extra crunch and flavor depth.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 234
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 85 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg