SALTED CARAMEL BARS

Published by Jessica on September 3, 2024

Salted Caramel Bars made with a sweet, buttery crust topped with creamy caramel & sea salt! Decadent bars that are truly irresistible!

Making caramel bars at home is surprisingly easy, and the result is a decadent treat that is perfect for any occasion. This salted caramel cookie recipe consists of a shortbread crust, a layer of rich caramel, and a sprinkle of sea salt on top. Whether you are a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, this cookie bar recipe is sure to impress.

These Caramel Cookie Bars are:

Easy to make: This recipe is very easy to make and requires only a few ingredients. You don’t need any fancy equipment or special skills to make these bars.
Perfect balance of flavors: The combination of sweet and salty creates a perfect balance of flavors. The addition of sea salt complements the sweetness of the caramel, making it a perfect dessert for those who love both sweet and salty flavors.
Great for any occasion: These bars are great for any occasion, whether it’s a family gathering, a potluck, or a party. They are easy to transport and can be made ahead of time, which makes them a great dessert option for busy people.

Salted Caramel Bar Ingredients

Butter: Adding in 1 cup of butter, softened (2 cubes), will help create a perfectly rich shortbread cookie base for this delightful treat.

Sugar: You will need 1 cup of white sugar to make these bars sweet and chewy.

Powder sugar: For even more amazing taste, use 1 ½ cups of powdered sugar.

Sour cream: Using ½ cup of sour cream makes the cookie bars moist and helps bind ingredients together as well.

Vanilla extract: Enhance all the wonderful flavors in this recipe by adding in 1 TBSP of vanilla extract.

Flour: You need 3 ½ cups of flour for the structural base of these cookie bars.

Caramel Filling

Caramels: For the delicious filling, use one 14-oz bag of caramels, unwrapped. Or and 11-oz bag of unwrapped caramel bits.

Heavy cream: Adding in ⅓ cup of heavy cream or milk, will make the caramel sauce nice and creamy.

Vanilla extract: Use ½ tsp of vanilla extract to add a subtle layer of flavor in this rich sauce.

Salt: You will want to add in 2 tsp of coarse sea salt for the perfect complimenting taste to this amazing dessert.

how to make a 9x13 pan of salted caramel bars

Tips & Tricks for making AMAZING Caramel Bars

Caramel Bars are not difficult to make but there are a few tips that make the process much easier.

When making the shortbread crust, lay down a piece of parchment paper in the pan first. The shortbread crust doesn’t stick, but the caramel seeps through a bit and the caramel can get stuck to the pan. So using parchment paper eliminates that mess!
I prefer to buy either unwrapped caramel bits OR the caramel pieces in a bag that are specifically for baking, because the outer wrapper comes off really easily. Those small square caramels in the clear plastic wrapper are such a pain to unwrap!
Don’t stress if your caramel doesn’t get completely smooth. It’s okay! You’re going to top the caramel sauce with shortbread dough and then bake them into dessert bars. Don’t spend extra time trying to whisk the caramel into submission.
Cool the caramel bars completely before cutting into squares. Don’t chill them! That will give you a caramel brick that might break your knife. Just cool on the countertop. Also, I like to spray my knife with non-stick spray prior to cutting the caramel bars. It makes cutting through the caramel so much easier.

Salted Caramel Bar Recipe

Salted Caramel Bars made with a sweet, buttery crust topped with creamy caramel & sea salt! Decadent bars that are truly irresistible!

4.50 from 10 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert, treats

Cuisine: American

Keyword: caramel bars, Salted Caramel Bar Recipe, shortbread cookie bar

Prep Time: 30

Cook Time: 30

Total Time: 1

Servings: bars

Calories: 225kcal

Author: Jessica & Nellie

Ingredients

1 cup butter softened (2 cubes)
1 cup white sugar
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
½ cup sour cream
1 TBSP vanilla
3 ½ cups flour
14 oz bag caramels unwrapped (or 11 oz bag of unwrapped caramel bits)
⅓ cup heavy cream or milk
½ tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp coarse sea salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Lightly spray with cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl cream together butter, sugar, and powdered sugar.
Add sour cream, vanilla and mix until combined. Mix in the flour and combine until it forms a soft dough.
Press half of the dough in the bottom of a 9×13 dish and place the other half of the dough into the refrigerator. (Do your best dividing it in half- I think mine ends up being 2/3 in the pan and the remaining 1/3 in the fridge and it still turns out well!)
Bake crust in preheated oven for 15 minutes.
While the crust is baking, melt the caramels, heavy cream and 1/2 tsp vanilla in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir together until smooth, adding more time in 30-45 second increments as needed. Try and get it as smooth as you can, depending on the type of caramel, it might not be perfectly smooth and that’s okay!
Pour caramel evenly over the hot crust. Lightly sprinkle about 1 tsp coarse sea salt over the caramel.
Take the remaining dough out of the refrigerator and crumble over the top of the caramel. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until filling is bubbly and the top is firm.
Add remaining 1 tsp salt after caramel bars are cooled, but before cutting. Let them cool completely before cutting into small squares. Serve and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Salted caramel bars can last up to 1 week if stored properly. They should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain their freshness.

If you want to store them for a longer period, you can freeze them for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

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Best Type of Caramel for Baking

When it comes to baking with caramel, it’s best to use a soft caramel. Soft caramels are easier to work with and will give you a chewy texture in your salted caramel bars. Hard caramels can be used, but they will result in a harder texture.

I prefer to buy either unwrapped caramel bits OR the caramel pieces in a bag that are specifically for baking, because the outer wrapper comes off really easily. Those small square caramels in the clear plastic wrapper are such a pain to unwrap! You can find the baking caramels on end caps, on the baking aisle or often in the produce section by the apples.

When to Serve Salted Caramel Bars?

Salted caramel bars are a great dessert option for any occasion. They are perfect for serving at parties, family gatherings, or as a sweet treat to enjoy with a cup of coffee. They can be served as a dessert or as a snack, and are sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

How Long Does Salted Caramel Last?

Salted caramel bars can last up to a week if stored properly. They should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain their freshness. If you want to store them for a longer period, you can freeze them for up to three months.

What Makes Salted Caramel Salty?

The salt in salted caramel bars is added to enhance the flavor of the caramel. It helps to balance out the sweetness and adds a savory note to the dessert. The type of salt used can vary, but most recipes call for sea salt or kosher salt.

Salted Caramel Bars made with a sweet, buttery crust topped with creamy caramel & sea salt! Decadent bars that are truly irresistible!

If you love this Salted Caramel Bar recipe check out these other tasty caramel desserts:

Salted Caramel Bar Recipe are a wonderful combination of sweet and salty tastes that make for a delightful treat that is hard to resist. These caramel shortbread bars are perfect for sharing with friends and family, bring to your next event and watch how quickly they disappear!

SALTED CARAMEL BARS

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These Caramel Cookie Bars are: