Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars Recipe
Introduction
Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars are a decadent dessert combining a buttery crumb crust with a rich, gooey filling and luscious salted caramel drizzle. These bars are perfect for anyone craving a sweet treat with a balance of salty and sweet flavors.
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 allow the mixture to boil until it turns an amber color. Remove from heat and carefully stir in the butter and room temperature heavy cream until smooth. Add salt and set aside to cool slightly.
- Step 2: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup flour and 3 tablespoons sugar. Add the cold butter pieces and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to blend until the mixture becomes crumbly. Press this crumb mixture evenly into a greased 9×13 inch baking pan to form the crust.
- Step 3: In another bowl, beat 3/4 cup room temperature butter with 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add the corn syrup and the egg, mixing until well combined. Gradually add 1 cup flour and 2/3 cup evaporated milk, mixing until the batter is smooth.
- Step 4: Pour the batter over the prepared crust in the pan. Drizzle half of the salted caramel evenly over the batter. Bake for about 50 minutes, until the center is slightly jiggly but set on the edges.
- Step 5: Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Before serving, drizzle the remaining salted caramel on top for an extra glossy, salty-sweet finish. Cut into bars and enjoy.
Tips & Variations
- Use room temperature ingredients for a smoother batter and creamier texture.
- For a nutty twist, sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over the caramel before baking.
- Substitute half-and-half for heavy cream in the caramel if you prefer a lighter sauce.
- Chill the bars after cooling to help them set and make cutting easier.
Storage
Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week. Reheat slightly in the microwave to soften before serving. These bars also freeze well; wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before enjoying.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I make the caramel ahead of time?
Yes, the salted caramel can be made a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Gently warm it before drizzling over the bars to restore its pourable consistency.
What if I don’t have evaporated milk?
You can substitute evaporated milk with an equal amount of regular milk or heavy cream, but the texture might be slightly less rich. For a closer match, use half milk and half cream.
Print
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 buttery crumb crust topped with a rich, sweet, and slightly salty caramel-infused batter. Perfectly gooey and decadently sweet, these bars are a delightful dessert treat with layers of luscious salted caramel baked into every bite.
Ingredients
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 1/4 cup water and 1 cup sugar, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Allow the mixture to boil without stirring until it turns a deep amber color. Remove from heat and carefully stir in 6 tablespoons of butter and 1/2 cup of room temperature heavy whipping cream until the caramel is smooth. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt, then set aside to cool slightly.
- Prepare the Crust: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour and 3 tablespoons sugar. Cut in 5 tablespoons of cold butter until the mixture becomes crumbly. Press this crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch baking pan to form the crust.
- Make the Filling: In a separate bowl, beat 3/4 cup room temperature unsalted butter with 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add 1/4 cup light corn syrup and 1 large egg, mixing well to combine. Gradually blend in 1 cup all-purpose flour and 2/3 cup evaporated milk until smooth.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the filling batter evenly over the prepared crust. Drizzle half of the reserved salted caramel over the top. Bake in the preheated oven for about 50 minutes, or until the center is slightly jiggly but set. Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the pan.
- Finish: Once cooled, drizzle the remaining salted caramel over the top of the bars. Cut into squares and serve.
Notes
- Ensure the heavy cream added to the caramel is at room temperature to prevent the caramel from seizing.
- Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting to achieve clean slices and gooey texture.
- Use unsalted butter to control the salt level in the caramel and filling precisely.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- For a deeper caramel flavor, let the sugar boil to a darker amber but be careful not to burn it.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Salted caramel bars,Salted caramel gooey butter bars,gooey butter bars,baked caramel dessert,butter crust dessert
