Description
These Shortbread Caramel Bars are everything you want in an easy dessert bar: buttery homemade shortbread, a smooth gooey caramel center, and a tender crumb topping that bakes up beautifully golden. They are perfect for holiday baking, quick dessert trays, sweet snack ideas, and easy recipe moments when you want something simple, rich, and crowd-pleasing without a lot of fuss.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup caramel sauce
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy.
3. Mix in the vanilla extract.
4. Add the flour and salt, then stir until a soft crumbly dough forms.
5. Press about two-thirds of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
6. In a small bowl, stir together the caramel sauce and sweetened condensed milk until smooth.
7. Pour the caramel mixture over the crust and spread it gently into an even layer.
8. Crumble the remaining dough over the top of the caramel layer.
9. Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden.
10. Cool completely in the pan before slicing into bars.
Notes
Do not slice the bars while they are still warm, or the caramel layer may run and the bars can fall apart instead of holding neat squares.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 322
- Sugar: 23g
- Sodium: 92mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 51mg