If you have a soft spot for desserts that strike the perfect balance between sweet and salty, then I cannot recommend this Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars Recipe enough. Imagine a tender, buttery cake-like crust beneath a luscious, creamy cream cheese layer, all generously drizzled with rich, golden caramel and finished with a pinch of sea salt that elevates every bite. These bars are irresistibly gooey, decadently flavorful, and come together with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. Whether you’re making them for a casual family treat or a festive gathering, these bars will quickly become a cherished favorite you’ll want to make again and again.

Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

These ingredients are wonderfully simple yet essential, each playing a vital role in creating the perfect texture, flavor, and appearance of your Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars. From the golden cake mix that forms the sturdy crust to the creamy cream cheese filling, every component works in delightful harmony.

Yellow cake mix: Provides a light, buttery base that bakes up with a tender crumb and just the right hint of sweetness.
Unsalted butter: Melted butter brings richness to both crust and filling, ensuring a moist and luscious finished texture.
Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and add structure to the bars for perfect gooeyness.
Cream cheese: This key ingredient creates a smooth, velvety filling that contrasts beautifully with the crust.
Vanilla extract: Infuses the filling with a warm, inviting aroma and subtle depth of flavor.
Powdered sugar: Sweetens the filling while contributing to its silky consistency.
Caramel sauce: The star element that delivers rich, buttery sweetness and becomes irresistibly gooey when baked.
Sea salt: Sprinkled on top, it perfectly balances the sweetness and intensifies the caramel’s complexity.

How to Make Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the oven and pan

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and greasing a 9×13 inch baking dish. A well-greased pan ensures your gooey bars slide out effortlessly after baking, preserving their beautiful layers.

Step 2: Make the crust

In a large bowl, mix together the yellow cake mix, 1/2 cup melted butter, and 1 egg until everything is smoothly combined. This simple crust mixture is your base — press it evenly into the baking dish to form a firm, even layer. It creates the perfect canvas for the luscious filling to come.

Step 3: Cream the filling

In a separate bowl, beat softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add the remaining 2 eggs, vanilla extract, and 1/2 cup melted butter, blending well. Gradually mix in the powdered sugar, beating until the filling is silky and lump-free. This mixture is the heart of what makes the bars so decadently gooey and rich.

Step 4: Assemble the layers

Pour the cream cheese filling over the crust, spreading it into an even layer. Next, drizzle the caramel sauce generously on top, allowing it to pool and swirl naturally. Finally, sprinkle the sea salt evenly over the caramel—this little finishing touch does wonders for flavor contrast.

Step 5: Bake to perfection

Place your assembled pan in the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when the edges turn a gorgeous golden brown and the center sets but remains soft. This bake time achieves that signature gooey texture without being too runny or overly firm.

Step 6: Cool and cut

Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. This step is crucial to help them firm up just enough for clean slicing. Once cooled, cut into 24 squares and prepare to fall in love with every buttery, caramel-kissed bite.

How to Serve Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars Recipe

Garnishes

To make these bars even more eye-catching and flavorful, sprinkle a few flakes of flaky sea salt on top just before serving to reinforce that salty-sweet balance. For extra flair, add a few chopped toasted pecans or walnuts for crunch and a nuttier aroma that pairs beautifully with caramel.

Side Dishes

These bars are rich and satisfying enough to shine on their own, but served alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of lightly whipped cream, they truly become a show-stopping dessert. A cup of freshly brewed coffee or a warm latte can also complement the caramel’s richness perfectly.

Creative Ways to Present

If you’re bringing these bars to a party, arrange them on a rustic wooden board and drizzle extra caramel sauce artistically over each square. Wrapping individual bars in parchment paper tied with twine makes a charming presentation for gifting, or stack them neatly in a decorative tin for a delightful homemade treat package.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

The Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars keep wonderfully when stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. For longer storage, refrigerate to maintain freshness, where they’ll hold well for up to five days without losing their irresistible gooey texture.

Freezing

These bars freeze beautifully! Wrap individual squares tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. They can be frozen for up to three months. When you’re ready to enjoy, simply thaw overnight in the fridge for best results without sacrificing texture.

Reheating

If you want to warm them up after chilling or freezing, a quick zap in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds brings back that melty, gooey goodness. Be careful not to overheat, as you want to maintain the perfect soft texture without drying them out.

FAQs

Can I use a homemade cake mix instead of boxed yellow cake mix?

Absolutely! While the boxed yellow cake mix simplifies the process and ensures consistency, using your favorite homemade yellow cake batter will work just as well to create that flavorful crust base.

Is it necessary to use unsalted butter?

Using unsalted butter gives you full control over the salt balance in the bars, especially since sea salt is sprinkled on top. However, if you only have salted butter, reduce or omit the additional sea salt to avoid over-salting.

Can these bars be made gluten-free?

You can make a gluten-free version by substituting the yellow cake mix with a gluten-free mix that works for baking. Just be sure to check that all your other ingredients, like caramel sauce, are free from gluten-containing additives.

What kind of caramel sauce works best?

A high-quality store-bought caramel sauce works perfectly, but you can also make your own homemade caramel for an extra special touch. Just ensure it’s thick enough to hold its place on the bars without completely running off.

How do I know when the bars are fully baked?

The edges should be golden brown and the center set but still slightly soft to the touch. Avoid overbaking, as the gooey texture comes from that soft center. The bars will firm up more as they cool.

Final Thoughts

These Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars Recipe are an absolute joy to make and even more delightful to eat. They combine simple pantry ingredients into layers of buttery, creamy, caramel-infused magic that will impress anyone lucky enough to taste them. Don’t hesitate to dive in and create this treat for yourself—once you do, I promise you’ll find it hard to stop at just one bite!

Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars Recipe

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4.1 from 80 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Yield: 24 servings 1x

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Description

These Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars combine a rich, buttery cake crust with a smooth cream cheese filling, topped with luscious caramel sauce and a sprinkle of sea salt. Perfectly gooey and sweet with a hint of saltiness, these bars are an irresistible dessert for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust

1 box yellow cake mix
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 egg

Filling

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
4 cups powdered sugar

Topping

1/2 cup caramel sauce
1 teaspoon sea salt

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Instructions

Preheat and prepare baking dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
Make crust mixture: In a large bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, 1/2 cup melted butter, and 1 egg. Mix well until fully combined.
Press crust into pan: Evenly press the cake mix mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish creating an even crust layer.
Beat cream cheese: In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until it becomes smooth and creamy.
Add filling ingredients: Add the remaining 2 eggs, vanilla extract, and 1/2 cup melted butter to the cream cheese. Beat until the mixture is well combined.
Incorporate powdered sugar: Gradually add the powdered sugar to the cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth and creamy.
Layer filling on crust: Pour the cream cheese mixture over the prepared crust and spread it evenly.
Add caramel topping: Drizzle the caramel sauce generously over the cream cheese layer.
Sprinkle sea salt: Evenly sprinkle sea salt over the caramel to enhance the flavor with a salt balance.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown and the center is set but still gooey.
Cool and serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the baking dish before cutting into 24 squares for serving.

Notes

Ensure the cream cheese is fully softened for a smooth filling.
Do not overbake; the center should be set but still gooey for the perfect texture.
For easier cutting, refrigerate the bars after cooling to firm them up.
You can substitute store-bought caramel sauce with homemade caramel for extra richness.
Use sea salt flakes for a more pronounced texture and flavor contrast.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American