Ingredients
Scale
Ready to get baking? Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt flakes
If you’re missing an ingredient or two, don’t worry! You can substitute the caramel sauce with dulce de leche for a creamier texture, or add a touch of cinnamon to the dough for a warm, spicy twist. Remember, home cooking is about working with what you have and letting your creativity shine.
Instructions
Let’s get to the fun part—baking!
- Preheat your oven to 325°F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the vanilla extract and salt, mixing until combined.
- Gradually add the flour to the mixture, stirring until a crumbly dough forms.
- Press half of the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan to form the base layer.
- Bake the base layer in the preheated oven for 15 minutes until lightly golden.
- Remove from the oven and pour the caramel sauce evenly over the baked layer.
- Crumble the remaining dough over the top of the caramel layer.
- Sprinkle the sea salt flakes over the top layer for that perfect salty-sweet contrast.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
- Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing and serving.
Remember, perfection isn’t the goal here; it’s all about creating something delicious and memorable. If the caramel oozes a bit or the bars aren’t perfectly square, that’s just part of their homemade charm.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International
Keywords: Salted Caramel Butter Bars, recipe, cooking, food
