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
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
