Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars Recipe
Introduction
Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars are a luscious dessert that combines a buttery crumb crust with a gooey, rich filling enhanced by a homemade salted caramel drizzle. Perfect for caramel lovers, these bars offer a delightful balance of sweet and salty flavors in every bite.
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 sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then allow the mixture to boil until it turns an amber color. Remove from heat and carefully add the 6 tablespoons butter and the room temperature heavy cream, stirring until smooth. Stir in the salt and set aside to cool slightly.
- Step 2: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a medium bowl, mix 1 cup all-purpose flour with 3 tablespoons sugar. Cut in the 5 tablespoons cold butter with your fingers or a pastry cutter until the mixture is crumbly. Press this crust mixture evenly into a greased 9×13 inch baking pan.
- Step 3: In a separate large bowl, beat the 3/4 cup room temperature butter with 3/4 cup sugar until fluffy. Add the light corn syrup and the egg, mixing until combined. Gradually blend in 1 cup all-purpose flour and 2/3 cup evaporated milk until smooth.
- Step 4: Pour the batter over the prepared crust in the baking pan. Drizzle half of the reserved salted caramel over the top. Bake the bars for about 50 minutes, or until the center is still slightly jiggly but mostly set. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.
- Step 5: Once cooled, drizzle the remaining salted caramel over the bars for an extra touch of flavor. Serve and enjoy this irresistible treat!
Tips & Variations
- Use a candy thermometer to monitor caramel color for perfect amber without burning.
- For extra texture, sprinkle chopped toasted pecans over the batter before baking.
- Substitute light corn syrup with honey or golden syrup if preferred.
- Chill the bars briefly before cutting to achieve cleaner slices.
Storage
Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week. Reheat gently in the microwave or enjoy them chilled; they hold their gooey texture well either way.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?
Yes, but reduce the added salt in the caramel to avoid an overly salty flavor.
What can I use instead of evaporated milk?
You can substitute evaporated milk with whole milk or heavy cream, though this may slightly change the richness and texture of the filling.
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Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
Description
These Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars feature a rich and buttery crumb crust topped with a luscious, gooey filling drizzled generously with homemade salted caramel sauce. Perfect for caramel lovers, these bars are a delightful combination of sweet and salty with a soft, chewy texture that melts in your mouth.
Ingredients
Salted Caramel Sauce
- 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
Gooey 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
- Make the Salted Caramel Sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the water and sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely. Let the mixture boil without stirring until it turns an amber color. Remove from heat and quickly add the butter pieces and heavy cream while stirring continuously until the caramel is smooth and well combined. Stir in the salt then set aside to cool slightly.
- Prepare the Crust: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a mixing bowl, combine the flour and sugar. Cut the cold butter into the mixture using a pastry cutter or fingers until it resembles coarse crumbs. Press this crumbly mixture evenly into a greased 9×13 inch baking pan to form the crust layer.
- Make the Gooey Filling: In a separate bowl, beat the room temperature butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Add the light corn syrup and the egg, beating until fully incorporated. Gradually mix in the flour and evaporated milk until smooth and combined.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the gooey filling batter evenly over the prepared crust. Drizzle half of the reserved salted caramel sauce over the top. Bake in the preheated oven for about 50 minutes. The bars should be slightly jiggly in the center when done. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
- Serve: Once cooled, drizzle the remaining salted caramel sauce over the bars before slicing into squares and serving.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for best mixing consistency in the filling.
- Be careful not to overcook the caramel as it can turn bitter.
- Allow bars to cool fully to set for clean slicing.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature or refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- For a deeper caramel flavor, use dark brown sugar instead of white sugar in the crust.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Salted caramel, gooey butter bars, dessert bars, caramel dessert, sweet bars, easy dessert recipe
