Description
Ooey Gooey Caramel Butter Bars are rich dessert bars made with layers of buttery shortbread dough and a luscious caramel filling. Soft, chewy, and indulgent, they’re perfect for caramel lovers and special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- For the Caramel Filling:
- 1 (14 oz) bag caramel candies, unwrapped
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×9-inch baking dish or line with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together softened butter, granulated sugar, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and fluffy.
- Add flour and salt, and mix until a soft dough forms.
- Press two-thirds of the dough into the prepared pan to form an even layer. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven.
- While the base is baking, melt the caramel candies with heavy cream in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth. Add a pinch of sea salt if desired.
- Pour the caramel mixture evenly over the partially baked crust.
- Crumble the remaining dough over the caramel layer.
- Return to the oven and bake for an additional 25–30 minutes, or until the top is golden and the caramel is bubbly.
- Cool completely before slicing into bars. For clean cuts, chill slightly before slicing.
Notes
- Use parchment paper for easy removal and clean edges.
- Add a pinch of flaky sea salt on top for a salted caramel variation.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer shelf life.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: caramel butter bars, dessert bars, gooey caramel squares, butter shortbread, caramel treats