Salted Caramel Butter Bars
These Salted Caramel Butter Bars feature a delectably soft, buttery base combined with a luscious, gooey salted caramel topping enhanced by just the right amount of sea salt. Easy to make and irresistibly rich, they offer the perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors, making them an ideal indulgent treat for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes (including chilling time)
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free (if using gluten-free flour alternative)
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Salted Caramel Topping
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the buttery base: Melt the unsalted butter in a saucepan or microwave. Mix in the granulated and brown sugars until fully combined. Stir in the vanilla extract, then add the all-purpose flour and mix to form a soft dough. Press this mixture evenly into a greased baking pan to create the base layer.
- Bake the base: Place the pan into a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the crust turns golden and fragrant. This ensures a sturdy yet tender base for the caramel topping.
- Make the salted caramel topping: In a saucepan, gently warm the sweetened condensed milk with sea salt over low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and develops a rich caramel color.
- Pour the caramel over the base: After the base has cooled slightly, pour the warm salted caramel evenly over it, spreading gently to cover every corner for the perfect balance in each bite.
- Chill and set: Allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate until the caramel is firm and the bars can be sliced cleanly, usually about 2 hours.
Notes
- Use high-quality unsalted butter for the best flavor and texture.
- Stir the caramel gently and patiently to avoid lumps and crystallization.
- Press the base firmly and evenly to prevent crumbling.
- Allow the bars to chill fully for clean slices and to prevent caramel from oozing.
- Adjust sea salt quantity to your personal taste for perfect balance.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: Salted caramel, butter bars, dessert bars, caramel bars, buttery dessert, homemade caramel, sweet treat
Find it online: https://mealsbysarah.com/salted-caramel-butter-bars/