Description
These Salted Caramel Gooey Butter Bars feature a rich and buttery yellow cake crust topped with a creamy, sweet cream cheese layer, generously drizzled with caramel sauce and sprinkled with sea salt for the perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors. Ideal for dessert lovers seeking a gooey, decadent treat that’s easy to make and perfect for parties or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 egg
Cream Cheese Layer
- 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: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- Make the crust: In a large bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, 1/2 cup melted butter, and 1 egg. Stir until the mixture is well combined and forms a crumbly dough.
- Press crust into pan: Evenly press the dough mixture into the bottom of the greased baking dish to create a firm and even crust layer.
- Beat cream cheese: In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until it is smooth and creamy without lumps.
- Add eggs and flavoring: Add the remaining 2 eggs, vanilla extract, and 1/2 cup melted butter to the cream cheese and beat until fully blended and smooth.
- Add powdered sugar: Gradually incorporate the powdered sugar into the cream cheese mixture, beating continuously until the batter becomes smooth and thick.
- Spread cream cheese mixture: Pour the cream cheese batter evenly over the prepared crust in the baking dish and use a spatula to smooth the surface.
- Add caramel topping: Drizzle the caramel sauce evenly over the cream cheese layer to ensure every bite includes that luscious caramel flavor.
- Sprinkle sea salt: Evenly sprinkle 1 teaspoon of sea salt over the caramel to enhance the sweet-salty flavor profile.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40–45 minutes until the edges are golden brown and the center is set but still slightly gooey.
- Cool and serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the baking dish at room temperature before cutting into 24 squares for serving. This cooling step helps the bars to set properly and keeps them gooey but intact.
Notes
- Use room temperature cream cheese to ensure a smooth batter without lumps.
- Do not overbake; the center should remain slightly gooey for the perfect texture.
- For easier cutting, chill the bars after cooling completely to help them firm up.
- Use high-quality caramel sauce for the best flavor impact.
- You can substitute sea salt with kosher salt if unavailable, but adjust quantity as kosher salt may be coarser.
