These Salted Caramel Butter bars are one of my most requested recipes ever! The buttery cookie is filled with a creamy, salted caramel that is so rich and beyond delicious.
I can’t begin to explain to you how much I love these Salted Caramel Butter Bars…I make them ALL THE TIME. They are one of my most requested desserts to bring to parties and there is never one left! And might I add, if you happen to be entering a cookie contest, these will guarantee you victory. Unequivocally.
The base is a buttery shortbread that comes together very easily and the filling is simply caramels, milk or cream, and a little salt! You can use pre-made caramels, or even a thick caramel sauce. I do recommend using caramels over sauce, because I think the texture is more chewy and hold up better than sauce, but so many of you who have made this recipe let me know that you have used caramel sauce and it’s worked out well!
How To Make Salted Caramel Butter Bars
It’s all a pretty easy process, just a few steps, honestly: you make dough, you divide dough, you bake some of the dough, you chill some of the dough…
Looking For More Caramel Recipes? Try These:
Salted Caramel Butter Bars
- Prep Time: 30
- Cook Time: 50
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 24 bars 1x
- Category: Cookie Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Dessert
Description
Salted Caramel Butter Bars are a buttery shortbread filled with creamy salted caramel! A MUST MAKE!
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 2 cups salted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 4 cups all purpose flour
For the Filling:
- 14 ounces soft caramel candies (about 50 individual caramels), unwrapped
- 1/3 cup milk or cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- optional – 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°. Coat a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar together on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix until combined. Turn the mixer to low and add in the flour, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Press one-third of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Wrap the remaining dough in plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until the edges are a pale golden brown. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool about 15 minutes.
To Make the Filling:
- While the bottom crust is baking and the remaining dough is chilling, make the caramel filling. Place the unwrapped caramels in a microwave-safe bowl. Add the milk or cream. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Remove from the microwave and stir until smooth. If caramels are not completely melted, microwave on high for 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until smooth.
- Once the caramel is melted add in your ½ teaspoon of vanilla and stir until combined.
- Pour the caramel filling over the cooled crust. If you are going to salt the caramel sprinkle it on caramel layer now.
- Remove the remaining chilled dough from the refrigerator and crumble it evenly over the caramel.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake until the filling is bubbly and the crumbled shortbread topping is firm and lightly golden, about 25 – 30 minutes.
- Let cool completely before cutting into squares.
Notes
- Store airtight for up to 5 days
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 423
- Sugar: 39.9 g
- Sodium: 515.9 mg
- Fat: 18.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 60.6 g
- Protein: 4.3 g
- Cholesterol: 43.6 mg
I have made this recipe twice and it was the biggest hit both times. These bars have been nicknamed the “Mark” bars because one guest named Mark eats almost the entire tray!:) Thanks for the great treats.
So funny!!
Just wondering if these freeze well? Sure look delicious
Out of this world delicious!
Extremely disappointing… I had to throw the entire tray out!! What a waste! I wish I had listened to my instincts when I saw an entire TABLESPOON of salt was called for in this recipe. Nope. Decided to trust the recipe. I think even a teaspoon would have caused them to still be overly salty. The bars were INSANELY salty. Still… I could tell the recipe had potential… if you are making these, try 1/2-1 TEASPOON of salt. Otherwise they are completely inedible.
Miss Emily if you read the recipe correctly it Saud salt was optional and it was not to mixed in with anything it was to be used as a tipping. I believe this mistake is all on you honey.
Tablespoon of COARSE SEA SALT. Maybe you used too fine a salt.
Did you use table salt?? Maybe that’s why it’s salty. I used Maldon sea salt flakes and these were the best salted caramel.bars ever!
I make these bars all the time following the recipe exactly using pampered chef course sea salt sprinkled on top and it’s phenomenal.
Can these be made ahead and frozen? I want to bake them for a wedding next weekend but I don’t know if they can freeze for a few days. Any suggestions?
They can be made days in advance and left in room temp in air tight containers. I’ve also freezes them in a ziplock bag before and took them out when needed and it was still delicious.
Super yummy! I use caramel sauce out of a jar and it’s just as yummy!!
Delicious, my family loved them, even though I forgot the salt…lol.
I have 2 pear trees and I needed a great recipe! I add a layer of sliced pears on top of the caramel layer. Delicious.
Love that idea!
Wanted to try something. On about 4 inches of the cooled crust I spread Nutella the sprinkled a few chocolate chips and some chopped nuts. Then I poured the caramel over the whole thing and then the top crust. It was great. May make the whole thing that way next time.
sounds great!!
I bake all the time and these are by far the most requested item. Easy, delicious and always a hit!