Caramel Butter Bars

Servings: 12-16
Total Time: 45-55 minutes

Ingredients:

For the Crust:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Caramel Filling:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven:

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Line an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, or lightly grease it with cooking spray.

2. Make the Crust:

  • In a medium bowl, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, flour, and salt. Use a hand mixer or a spoon to mix the ingredients until the dough forms a crumbly texture.
  • Press the dough into the prepared baking pan, making sure it is evenly distributed and tightly packed.
  • Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until it’s lightly golden brown. Remove it from the oven and set it aside to cool slightly while you prepare the caramel filling.

3. Make the Caramel Filling:

  • In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
  • Once the butter is melted, add the brown sugar and heavy cream. Stir constantly until the mixture comes to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.
  • Let the caramel simmer for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. The caramel should thicken slightly and become smooth.
  • Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt.

4. Assemble the Bars:

  • Pour the warm caramel mixture over the partially cooled crust, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
  • Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the caramel is set and bubbly.

5. Cool and Cut:

  • Allow the bars to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes at room temperature.
  • Once the caramel has cooled and set, transfer the pan to the fridge and chill for at least 1 hour to make cutting easier.
  • After chilling, remove the bars from the pan and cut into squares or bars of your desired size.

Storage:

  • Store any leftover caramel butter bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days, or in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Nutrition (Per Serving – Based on 16 servings):

  • Calories: 200-250
  • Protein: 1g
  • Fat: 12g
  • Carbs: 26g
  • Fiber: 1g

These Caramel Butter Bars are rich, decadent, and full of flavor. The combination of buttery crust and gooey caramel is a crowd-pleaser, perfect for any occasion!