Description
Salted Caramel Butter Bars are a delectable treat combining a rich, buttery crust with a luscious, smooth caramel filling enhanced by a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Baked to golden perfection, these bars perfectly balance sweet and salty flavors, creating a mouthwatering dessert that’s perfect for any occasion — from holiday gatherings to casual snacking.
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
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring the edges overhang for easy bar removal later.
- Make the Crust: In a mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add the softened unsalted butter and mix using a fork or your hands until a crumbly dough forms. Press this dough evenly into the prepared baking pan to form the crust.
- Bake the Crust: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 15–18 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown. Remove and allow the crust to cool slightly in the pan.
- Prepare Caramel Filling: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 1/2 cup unsalted butter. Stir in packed brown sugar and sweetened condensed milk and bring the mixture to a simmer. Maintain a gentle simmer, stirring constantly for 4–5 minutes until the caramel thickens slightly.
- Flavor the Caramel: Remove the saucepan from heat. Stir in the vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt to enhance the flavor complexity.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the thickened caramel evenly over the warm crust. Spread it out gently using a spatula. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 12–15 minutes until the caramel is bubbly and golden.
- Cool and Finish: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature. For best results, chill in the refrigerator to help the caramel set firmly.
- Add Salt Topping and Slice: Once cooled, sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon flaky sea salt evenly over the top. Use the parchment paper edges to lift the bars out of the pan and slice into 12 to 16 squares for serving.
Notes
- Use high-quality unsalted butter, preferably European-style, for richer flavor and texture.
- Flaky sea salt is essential for the topping to provide the ideal salty crunch and enhance caramel flavor.
- Allow bars to cool completely, even refrigerate if possible, for clean slicing and caramel setting.
- Be cautious not to overbake the caramel layer to avoid a dry or overly hard texture.
- These bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Salted caramel bars, caramel butter bars, caramel dessert, sweet and salty dessert, easy baked bars, homemade caramel bars
