Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars Recipe

Introduction

These Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars combine a buttery crumb crust with a rich, gooey filling and a luscious salted caramel drizzle. Perfect for those who love a balance of sweet and salty in a decadent dessert bar.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup water
• 1 cup sugar (for caramel)
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon-sized pieces (for caramel)
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, room temperature (for caramel)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour (for crust)
• 3 tablespoons sugar (for crust)
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut into tablespoon-sized pieces (for crust)
• 3/4 cup sugar (for filling)
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (for filling)
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup all-purpose flour (for filling)
• 2/3 cup evaporated milk

Instructions

1. Step 1: Make the salted caramel by combining water and 1 cup sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then allow it to boil without stirring until it turns a deep amber color. Remove from heat and carefully whisk in the 6 tablespoons butter and the room temperature heavy cream until smooth. Stir in the salt and set aside to cool slightly.
2. Step 2: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup flour and 3 tablespoons sugar. Cut in the cold 5 tablespoons butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press this mixture evenly into a greased 9×13 inch baking pan to form the crust.
3. Step 3: In a separate bowl, beat the room temperature 3/4 cup butter with 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add the corn syrup and egg, mixing until well combined. Gradually add 1 cup flour and 2/3 cup evaporated milk, mixing until smooth.
4. Step 4: Pour the filling 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 set. Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting. Drizzle the remaining caramel over the bars before serving.

Tips & Variations

• Use room temperature ingredients for the filling to ensure a smooth, creamy texture.
• For extra gooey bars, slightly underbake and allow residual heat to finish cooking.
• Swap light corn syrup with honey or golden syrup for a different flavor note.
• Add a sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top after drizzling the remaining caramel for a more pronounced salty kick.

Storage

Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week. To enjoy warm gooey bars, reheat individual portions in the microwave for 10–15 seconds. Avoid freezing, as the texture of the caramel and filling may be compromised.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the salted caramel ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the salted caramel up to a week in advance. Store it in a sealed container in the refrigerator and gently warm before using.

What if I don’t have evaporated milk?

You can substitute evaporated milk with regular milk or half-and-half, though the filling may be slightly less rich and creamy.

Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 122 reviews

These Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars combine a buttery crumb crust with a rich and creamy filling, topped with luscious homemade salted caramel. Perfectly balanced between sweet and salty, these bars are indulgent, gooey, and an ideal treat for dessert lovers.

• Author: Lara
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 12 bars 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

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

1. Make the Salted Caramel: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine water and sugar. Stir gently until sugar dissolves, then allow the mixture to boil without stirring until it turns an amber color. Remove from heat and quickly add butter and room temperature heavy cream, stirring until the caramel is smooth. Stir in salt. Set aside to cool slightly.
2. Prepare the Crust: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup flour and 3 tablespoons sugar. Cut in the cold butter pieces using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture is crumbly. Press this mixture evenly into the bottom of a greased 9×13 inch baking pan to form the crust.
3. Make the Filling: In another bowl, beat the room temperature butter with 3/4 cup sugar until fluffy and light in color. Add corn syrup and the egg, beating until fully combined. Gradually mix in 1 cup flour and evaporated milk until smooth.
4. Assemble and Bake: Pour the filling batter evenly over the prepared crust in the baking pan. Drizzle half of the salted caramel sauce over the top. Bake in the preheated oven for about 50 minutes, or until the center is slightly jiggly but mostly set.
5. Cool and Serve: Remove the bars from the oven and allow to cool in the pan completely. Once cooled, drizzle the remaining salted caramel over the top before cutting into bars and serving.

Notes

• Use room temperature ingredients for the filling to ensure smooth mixing.
• Allow the salted caramel to cool slightly before drizzling to avoid it running off the bars.
• Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days for best freshness.
• For cleaner cuts, chill bars before slicing.

Keywords: Salted caramel bars, gooey butter bars, caramel dessert, easy baking, dessert bars