Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars Recipe
Introduction
Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars are a decadent treat combining a buttery crust, rich gooey filling, and luscious salted caramel drizzle. This dessert is perfect for anyone craving a perfect balance of sweet and salty 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 water and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then let it boil without stirring until it turns amber. Remove from heat and carefully add butter and room temperature cream, stirring until smooth. Stir in salt and set aside to cool slightly.
- Step 2: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, mix 1 cup flour and 3 tablespoons sugar. Cut in the cold butter pieces until the mixture becomes crumbly. Press this crust mixture evenly into a greased 9×13 inch baking pan.
- Step 3: In a separate bowl, beat the room temperature butter with 3/4 cup sugar until fluffy. Mix in the light corn syrup and egg until well combined. Gradually add the remaining 1 cup flour and evaporated milk, mixing until smooth.
- Step 4: Pour the gooey batter over the prepared crust. Drizzle half of the salted caramel over the top. Bake for about 50 minutes, or until the center is slightly jiggly but mostly set. Allow to cool completely before cutting.
- Step 5: Once cooled, drizzle the remaining salted caramel over the bars before serving.
Tips & Variations
- For an extra flavor boost, sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt on top after drizzling the final caramel layer.
- You can substitute heavy whipping cream with half-and-half in the caramel, though the texture may be slightly less rich.
- To make the crust even more buttery, try using browned butter instead of regular butter when mixing the crumb base.
Storage
Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to a week. To reheat, warm in a microwave for 10-15 seconds to regain gooeyness, if desired.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?
Yes, but reduce or omit the added salt in the caramel to avoid an overly salty result.
Can I make these bars ahead of time?
Absolutely. These bars actually taste better after resting for a day as the flavors meld. Just keep them covered at room temperature or refrigerated.
Print
Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
Description
Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars combine a rich buttery crust with a luscious, gooey filling enhanced by a homemade salted caramel drizzle. This dessert features a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and creamy textures, making it an irresistible treat for caramel lovers.
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
- Make the Salted Caramel: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the water and sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely, then allow the mixture to boil without stirring until it reaches an amber color. Remove from heat, then carefully add the butter and room temperature heavy cream while stirring constantly until the caramel sauce is smooth. Stir in the salt and set aside to cool slightly.
- Prepare the Crust: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour and sugar. Cut the cold butter into the mixture using a pastry cutter or your fingers until it forms a crumbly texture. Press the crumbly mixture evenly into the bottom of a greased 9×13 inch baking pan to form the crust.
- Mix the Filling: In a separate large bowl, beat the room temperature butter and sugar together until fluffy and light. Add the light corn syrup and egg, mixing until well combined. Gradually add the flour and evaporated milk, stirring consistently to form a smooth batter.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the filling batter over the prepared crust in the baking pan. Drizzle half of the reserved salted caramel sauce evenly over the filling. Bake in the preheated oven for about 50 minutes, or until the edges are set but the center remains slightly jiggly.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool completely before cutting into squares. Drizzle the remaining salted caramel sauce over the top before serving to enhance flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Ensure the butter and cream for the caramel are at room temperature to prevent the caramel from seizing.
- Do not overbake the bars; a slightly jiggly center will set as they cool, ensuring a gooey texture.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- For an extra touch, sprinkle a few flakes of sea salt on top after drizzling the remaining caramel.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Salted Caramel, Gooey Butter Bars, Caramel Dessert, Bar Cookies, Homemade Caramel, Sweet Treats
