Sweet & Salty Bliss: Irresistible Salted Caramel Butter Bars Recipe

Sweet, buttery bliss meets pure indulgence in these delectable salted caramel butter bars that melt in your mouth.

Layers of rich, golden goodness promise an irresistible treat for anyone who loves decadent desserts.

The combination of sweet caramel and delicate salt creates a perfect harmony of flavors that dance across your palate.

Each bar delivers a luxurious texture that crumbles softly with every bite.

Generous amounts of butter ensure these bars remain incredibly tender and moist.

The recipe offers a simple yet sophisticated approach to satisfying your most intense dessert desires.

One taste will transport you to a world of pure culinary pleasure, making these bars an absolute must-try for anyone seeking a truly memorable sweet experience.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40-50 minutes

Total Time: 55-65 minutes

Calories: 350 kcal

Servings: 13

Ingredients That Make Salted Caramel Butter Bars Rich

• Salted Butter: Provides rich, creamy foundation that creates a melt-in-your-mouth texture with deep buttery flavor.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a crisp, golden crust with delightful caramelized edges.
• Powdered Sugar: Ensures a silky smooth consistency and contributes to the bar's delicate crumbly structure.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor profile with warm, aromatic undertones that complement the caramel.
• All-Purpose Flour: Creates structural integrity and delivers the perfect tender-crisp base for the bars.

• Caramel Candies: Deliver intense, golden sweetness and create a luxurious, gooey center that defines the dessert.
• Heavy Cream: Helps soften and smooth the caramel, ensuring a luscious, spreadable consistency.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and rounds out the rich caramel flavor with subtle complexity.

• Flake Sea Salt: Provides a sophisticated contrast, cutting through sweetness and elevating the entire dessert with a sophisticated flavor burst.

Tools You’ll Need for Salted Caramel Butter Bars

• Stand Mixer: Essential for creaming butter and sugar smoothly and creating the perfect dough texture.
• 9×13-inch Baking Dish: Key for assembling and baking the salted caramel butter bars.
• Paddle Attachment: Helps mix ingredients evenly and create a soft, consistent dough.
• Microwave-Safe Bowl: Needed for melting caramel candies with heavy cream.
• Wire Rack: Useful for cooling the crust after initial baking.
• Plastic Wrap: Helps chill the remaining dough in the refrigerator.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Important for accurate ingredient measurements.
• Spatula: Helps spread caramel evenly and scrape ingredients from the mixer.

Directions to Bake Salted Caramel Butter Bars

Caramel Butter Dream

• Butter Base Foundation

Craft a smooth, pillowy dough using creamy butter, sweet sugars, and soft flour. The foundation creates a melt-in-your-mouth canvas for delectable layers.

• Caramel Magic

Transform golden caramel candies into a silky river of sweetness by gently melting them with rich cream. A splash of vanilla adds depth and warmth to this luscious mixture.

• Salty Whispers

Sprinkle delicate sea salt crystals across the caramel landscape, creating surprising bursts of flavor that dance between sweet and savory sensations.

• Crumbly Crown

Tenderly scatter remaining dough across the caramel, creating a rustic, textured topping that will turn golden and crisp during baking.

• Oven Transformation

Bake until the edges become perfectly bronzed and caramel bubbles with excitement, filling your kitchen with an irresistible aroma.

• Cooling Anticipation

Allow the bars to rest and settle, letting flavors meld and texture develop. Once completely cooled, slice into delightful squares ready to enchant taste buds.

Variations for Salted Caramel Butter Bars You’ll Love

• Salted Caramel Butter Bars Cooking Tips & Variations
• Chill Dough Perfectly: Refrigerate the remaining dough for at least 30 minutes to make crumbling easier and prevent sticky handling during assembly.
• Salt Selection Magic: Experiment with different sea salt varieties like Maldon or Himalayan pink salt to create unique flavor profiles that complement the sweet caramel base.
• Storage Smart Trick: Store these bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or refrigerate for extended freshness without losing their delightful texture.
• Flavor Fusion Fun: Add chopped nuts like pecans or toasted almonds between the caramel and crumble layer for extra crunch and nutty depth to your dessert bars.
• Make-Ahead Marvel: Prepare the entire recipe a day in advance and keep covered at room temperature, allowing flavors to meld and intensify before serving to guests or family.

Ways to Serve Salted Caramel Butter Bars at Events

• Sweet Picnic Pleasures: Pack these bars in cute mason jars or wrapped individually for outdoor gatherings, making them perfect for summer potlucks and family reunions.
• Dessert Plating Magic: Serve bars on elegant white plates with a light dusting of powdered sugar and a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for a restaurant-style presentation.
• Coffee Companion Delight: Pair these bars with a hot espresso or cappuccino, allowing the rich caramel and buttery notes to complement the coffee's robust flavor profile.
• Gifting Gourmet Touch: Wrap bars in parchment paper, tie with a rustic twine, and include a handwritten note for a personalized homemade gift that shows thoughtfulness and culinary skill.

How to Store Salted Caramel Butter Bars the Right Way

• Smart Storage Solutions
• Refrigerator Haven: Store these delectable bars in an airtight container within your refrigerator for up to 5 days, maintaining their delightful texture and preventing caramel from becoming too soft.
• Counter Comfort: When kept at room temperature in a sealed container, bars remain tasty for 2-3 days, perfect for quick sweet cravings without losing their crumbly goodness.
• Freezing Magic: Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap, then place inside a freezer-safe container. Frozen bars stay delicious for 3 months, offering a make-ahead dessert option that's ready anytime.
• Slice & Serve Strategy: Separate layers with parchment paper when storing to prevent bars from sticking together, ensuring each piece looks as stunning as when first baked.

Irresistible Salted Caramel Butter Bars

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4.7 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 55-65 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Homemade salted caramel butter bars deliver rich, buttery layers of indulgence straight from family kitchens. Sweet and salty notes blend perfectly, creating irresistible dessert bars that welcome hungry friends around the table.

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Ingredients

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• 3 cups (720 ml) all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups (340 g) salted butter, at room temperature
• 14 oz (397 g) caramel candies, unwrapped
• ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
• 1 ¼ cups (150 g) powdered sugar
• 1 ½ tbsps (22 ml) vanilla extract
• ⅓ cup (80 ml) heavy cream
• Flake sea salt, to taste

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 325°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
2. Butter Mixture: Cream butter, granulated and powdered sugars in a stand mixer until light and fluffy, then blend in vanilla extract.
3. Dough Formation: Fold flour into the butter mixture, creating a soft, cohesive dough. Divide the dough, pressing half evenly into the prepared dish and refrigerating the remaining portion.
4. Initial Baking: Bake the pressed dough for 15-20 minutes until edges turn a delicate golden color. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
5. Caramel Layer: Microwave caramel candies with heavy cream, stirring until smooth. Incorporate vanilla extract and drizzle evenly over the cooled crust. Sprinkle flake sea salt for a sweet-savory contrast.
6. Topping and Final Bake: Crumble the chilled dough over the caramel layer, creating a rustic top. Return to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until caramel bubbles and surface becomes golden brown.
7. Serving: Allow bars to cool completely before cutting into 24 precise squares, revealing layers of buttery decadence.

Notes

• Select Precise Oven Temperature: Use exactly 325°F for consistent golden-brown crust without burning.
• Master Butter Mixing Technique: Blend sugars and butter for full 2 minutes to achieve light, creamy texture that guarantees perfect consistency.
• Control Caramel Melting Process: Microwave caramel carefully, stirring frequently to prevent scorching and ensure smooth, glossy finish.
• Strategic Cooling Approach: Let bars cool completely before cutting to maintain structural integrity and clean, sharp edges.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 40-50 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 23 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 14 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 60 mg