Introduction

Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars are a decadent treat that combines a buttery crust with a rich, gooey filling and luscious salted caramel. Perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth, these bars offer a delightful balance of flavors and textures that will keep you coming back for more.

Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients

1/4 cup water
1 cup sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter (cut into tablespoon-sized pieces)
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (room temperature)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons unsalted butter (cold and cut into tablespoon-sized pieces)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 large egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup evaporated milk

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the salted caramel by combining the water and 1 cup of sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Allow the mixture to boil without stirring until it turns an amber color.
Step 2: Remove from heat and carefully add the 6 tablespoons of butter and 1/2 cup of room temperature heavy cream while stirring continuously until smooth. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt and set aside.
Step 3: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of flour and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Add the 5 tablespoons of cold butter and mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Step 4: Press the crumb mixture evenly into a greased 9×13 inch baking pan to form the crust.
Step 5: In another bowl, beat 3/4 cup of room temperature butter with 3/4 cup of sugar until fluffy. Add the light corn syrup and egg, mixing until combined.
Step 6: Gradually add 1 cup of flour and 2/3 cup of evaporated milk to the wet mixture, mixing until smooth.
Step 7: Pour the batter evenly over the prepared crust. Drizzle half of the salted caramel evenly on top.
Step 8: Bake for about 50 minutes, until the center is slightly jiggly but mostly set. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.
Step 9: Drizzle the remaining salted caramel over the cooled bars before serving.

Tips & Variations

For an extra crispy crust, pre-bake the crust for 8-10 minutes before adding the batter.
Use high-quality unsalted butter for the best flavor in both the crust and filling.
If you prefer a less sweet caramel, reduce the sugar by 1/4 cup when making the caramel sauce.
Try adding a sprinkle of chopped nuts, like pecans or walnuts, on top for extra crunch.

Storage

Store salted caramel gooey butter bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat gently in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to restore gooey texture before serving.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the caramel sauce ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the salted caramel sauce a day in advance. Store it in the refrigerator and gently warm it before drizzling over the bars.

What can I use instead of evaporated milk?

If you don’t have evaporated milk, you can substitute with an equal amount of whole milk or a mix of half-and-half for a richer texture.

Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars Recipe

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Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars combine a crisp, buttery crust with a rich, gooey filling swirled with luscious homemade salted caramel, creating an irresistibly sweet and indulgent treat perfect for dessert or special occasions.

Author: Marco
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Yield: 16 bars 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Salted Caramel

1/4 cup water
1 cup sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon-sized pieces
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, room temperature
1/4 teaspoon salt

Crust

1 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut into tablespoon-sized pieces

Filling

3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 large egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup evaporated milk

Instructions

Prepare the Salted Caramel: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine water and sugar. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved, then allow the mixture to boil without stirring until it reaches a deep amber color, indicating caramelization. Remove from heat and carefully stir in the butter pieces and room temperature heavy cream until smooth. Add salt and mix well. Set aside to cool slightly.
Make the Crust: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour and 3 tablespoons sugar. Cut in the cold, cubed butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture becomes crumbly. Press this mixture evenly into the bottom of a greased 9×13 inch baking pan to form the crust.
Prepare the Filling: In a large bowl, beat the room temperature butter with 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add the light corn syrup and the egg, mixing well to combine. Gradually incorporate the 1 cup flour and evaporated milk, blending until the batter is smooth and uniform.
Assemble and Bake: Pour the filling batter evenly over the prepared crust in the baking pan. Drizzle half of the prepared salted caramel over the top of the batter in a swirling motion. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 50 minutes, or until the center is slightly jiggly but set around the edges.
Cool and Serve: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely. Once cooled, drizzle the remaining salted caramel over the top before slicing into bars and serving.

Notes

Make sure the butter for the crust is cold to achieve a crumbly texture.
Caramel can burn quickly once it reaches amber stage; watch closely and remove from heat immediately.
Allow bars to cool fully before cutting to ensure clean slices.
Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.
For a deeper caramel flavor, sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt on top before serving.

Keywords: Salted caramel bars, gooey butter bars, caramel dessert, buttery crust dessert, sweet bars recipe