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Gooey Salted Caramel Butter Bars

Ultra-buttery dessert bars layered with rich gooey caramel and finished with flaky sea salt.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 16 bars
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Autumn
Calories: 320
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Butter Bar Dough
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 0.75 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 0.25 tsp salt
Caramel Filling
  • 1 cup caramel sauce thick
  • 0.5 cup sweetened condensed milk
  • 0.25 cup brown sugar packed
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter melted
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 0.75 tsp flaky sea salt plus extra for topping

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Baking dish
  • Wire rack
  • Hand mixer or stand mixer

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9x13-inch pan with parchment paper.
  2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla and salt.
  3. Add flour and mix until a soft dough forms.
  4. Press two-thirds of the dough into the pan and bake 12–15 minutes.
  5. Whisk together all caramel filling ingredients until smooth.
  6. Pour caramel over baked crust and crumble remaining dough on top.
  7. Bake 25–30 minutes until golden and bubbling.
  8. Cool completely, sprinkle with sea salt, slice, and serve.

Notes

Chill before slicing for clean cuts and extra gooey texture.