Yum! That’s what we said when we tried this delicious bars, and I think that’s what you’ll say, too. If you like shortbread and caramel, mix up a batch and give it a try.
Salted Caramel Shortbread Bars
1 lb. salted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 Tbl. vanilla + 1/2 tsp.
4 cups flour
1 bag (14 oz.) caramel candies or caramel bits
1/3 cup milk
1 Tbl. coarse sea salt
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Combine butter and sugars and mix until creamy. Add 2 Tbl. vanilla and mix until combined. Sift the flower in slowly and beat on low speed until a soft dough forms.
Spray a 9 x 13 pan with non-stick cooking spray. Press 1/2 of the dough evenly into the bottom of the pan to form the crust. Wrap the rest in plastic wrap and store in refrigerator.
Bake the crust for 20 minutes (until edges are a pale golden brown) and then let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
While the crust is baking, melt the caramels and add the cream. Stir well, and then add 1/2 tsp. vanilla, stirring until combined. Pour the caramel filling over the crust. Sprinkle the sea salt on top of the caramel. (The salt is optional, but good!)
Crumble the remaining dough over the top of the caramel layer. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly and the shortbread crumbles are firm and lightly golden.
Cool before cutting into squares.
(Original recipe from Cookies & Cups, where you will find a lot of other really amazing looking recipes as well.)
I’m a big fan of bar recipes. (Bars as in dessert bars, not recipes that you’d find if you were frequenting a bar on the weekend.) What is your favorite bar recipe? Leave a comment and we’ll draw a name from the comments to win a $25 Loopy Ewe Gift Certificate, next week! Ā (Also – keep a careful eye on the blog in August, as that is our Anniversary month – Seven Years! – and we’ll be having weekly blog contests, in addition to a really cool Anniversary Kit mid-month that you’ll want to get in on.)
Sheri hopingyouhaveplansforafunweekend!
My all-time favorites are lemon bars; second place is strawberry jam bars.
Oh Henry bars are the best!
I love all bars the more bars the better. I will absolutely be trying this recipe.
Seven Layer Bars are my favoirte!!! All my favorite ingredients, chocolate chips, buterscotch chips, coconut and pecans š YUM!!
I love lemon bars!
I haven’t found a bar cookie that I don’t like. Your recipe sounds yummy!
I like the Barefoot Contessa’s Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars! But I love salted caramel, so I can’t wait to try these. š
Another vote for lemon bars as the favorite one, but I certainly wouldn’t turn down any of the bars mentioned!
Yet another one for good old lemon bars. So fantastic, so simple, and not too heavy.
Lemon bars. Pretty much anything lemon gets my vote. I love the kind with a pastry crust on the bottom, lots of lemony goop, and then a crumble top that’s slightly browned. Perfect! And now I want one really badly…
Cream Cheese Brownies!
4 oz pkg Baker’s German Sweet Chocolate
5 T butter
3 oz cream cheese
1 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 T flour
1 1/2 t vanilla
2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1/2 c flour
1/4 t almond extract
Melt chocolate with 3 T butter over low heat. Let cool. Cream remaining butter with cream cheese. Gradually add 1/4 c sugar. Blend in 1 egg, 1 T flour, and 1/2 t vanilla, set aside. Beat 2 eggs until thick. Add 3/4 c sugar, then baking powder, salt, and 1/2 c flour. Blend in chocolate, 1 t vanilla, and almond extract. Spread 1/2 of chocolate mixture in greased 8″ or 9″ pan. Top with cheese mixture, then remaining chocolate mixture. Zigzag a knife through batter to mix. Bake at 350 F for 35-40 minutes.
I love breakfast bars
Monster Bars are my favorite. So quick and easy and oh so yummy. With peanut butter, oatmeal and no flour they have to be healthy….right?
These Magic Bars are divine: http://www.eaglebrand.com/recipes/details/?RecipeId=3934. Thanks for chance to win!
My favorite bars to date are: http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Raspberry-White-Chocolate-Bars I had originally found them in an odd cooking magazine but now the recipe is everywhere. They are very rich and quite delicious!
I love butterscotch!!! And these are so yummy! Gooey butterscotch bars, what more can you ask, butterscotch and caramel…http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Gooey-Butterscotch-Bars
Reese bars. They are made with powdered sugar, ground graham crackers, and peanut butter on the bottom with chocolate chips melted on top.
There is nothing quite like lemon squares for a sweet/ tart summer dessert.
I just love Lemon Squares: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Lemon-Square-Bars/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=lemon%20squares&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page This recipe is particularly good.
We love Lemon Bars! When I was a newlywed I’d make them all the time! DD#1 finally discovered them so I am teaching her how to make them. ;o)
My favorite bar cookie….is my brownie recipe called the “Gem County Brownies”. I was a food judge and received this recipe from one of the 4-Hers at the county fair. I definitely gave them a blue ribbon.
Chocolate chip cookie bars are my favorite. All the flavor of chocolate chip cookies, but a lot easier.
Lemon bars. Although those 7 layer bars are to die for, I just have never made them. And I looove shortbread!
I love the Baby Ruth bars my mom makes with chocolate, peanut butter, and Rice Krispies. Yum!
My fave right now are Lemon bars!!! So so yummy!
Magic cookie bars (aka 7 layer bars). Also, something I remember from my college days called Tarr bars, though I don’t think I’ve ever had the recipe…
I’m big sucker for Fudge Brownie Bars
Yummmmmmmmm
Hugs
Oh my —- we love salted carmel gelato AND I made shortbread for the first time last Christmas. I am definately trying this recipe!
I love Lemon Bars….with a great crust and powdered sugar on top!
I have always loved 7 layer bars.
Lemon bars are my favorite!