The Most Gooey Salted Caramel Butter Cake Bars Recipe Ever

Decadent butter cake bars with salted caramel are the ultimate dessert indulgence that will make your taste buds dance with pure joy.

Sweet meets salty in this irresistible treat that melts in your mouth with each heavenly bite.

Layers of rich, buttery cake blend seamlessly with gooey caramel, creating a symphony of flavors that demands attention.

The contrast between the sweet cake and delicate salt crystals creates a magical experience for anyone craving something extraordinary.

Creamy, smooth, and utterly addictive, these bars are perfect for satisfying your most intense dessert cravings.

Each slice promises a moment of pure bliss that will leave you wanting more.

Gooey Salted Caramel Butter Cake Bars: Irresistible Bites

• Whip Up Simplicity: This recipe transforms a basic cake mix into a decadent dessert with minimal ingredients and straightforward steps, making it perfect for bakers of all skill levels.
• Crowd-Pleasing Potential: The combination of sweet caramel, rich cream cheese, and a hint of sea salt creates a universally appealing treat that will wow friends and family at gatherings.
• Versatile Dessert Delight: These bars work brilliantly for potlucks, game days, birthday parties, or as a casual weekend indulgence, offering maximum flavor with minimal preparation effort.
• Customize with Ease: Bakers can personalize the recipe by experimenting with different caramel brands, adjusting salt levels, or adding extra toppings like chocolate drizzle or chopped nuts.

Caramel Cake Bar Ingredients

• Cake Mix: A convenient shortcut that provides the foundation for the cake bars.
• Butter: Adds rich flavor and helps create a tender crust.
• Eggs: Provides structure and helps bind the ingredients together.

• Cream Cheese: Creates a smooth, creamy layer with a tangy flavor.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and helps stabilize the cream cheese mixture.
• Vanilla: Enhances the overall flavor profile of the dessert.

• Caramel Sauce, Sea Salt: Adds a sweet and salty contrast that elevates the dessert's flavor complexity.

Butter Cake Bar Baking Steps

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Crank your oven to a toasty 350°F and generously coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Create the Crunchy Base

• Cake mix
• Melted butter
• One egg

Blend these ingredients until they form a cohesive mixture.

Press this delightful combination firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, creating a solid foundation for your dessert.

Step 3: Whip Up the Creamy Layer

• Cream cheese
• Remaining eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Powdered sugar

Blend until the mixture becomes silky smooth and free of any lumps.

Step 4: Build the First Cream Layer

Spread half of the cream cheese mixture evenly across the cake mix base.

Drizzle caramel sauce in beautiful swirls and sprinkle sea salt to create pockets of sweet and salty flavor.

Step 5: Add the Final Cream Topping

Carefully pour the remaining cream cheese mixture over the caramel layer, ensuring an even coverage.

Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the baking dish into the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes.

Look for a golden color and a set texture that jiggles slightly when gently shaken.

Step 7: Cool and Slice

Allow the cake to cool completely at room temperature.

Once cooled, slice into delectable bars and serve.

Gooey Bar Pro Tips

• Generously grease the baking dish or line with parchment paper for easy removal and clean cutting of bars.
• Use room temperature cream cheese and eggs to ensure a silky, lump-free cream cheese layer that blends perfectly.
• Drizzle caramel sauce sparingly to avoid overwhelming sweetness, creating a delicate balance with sea salt's savory touch.
• Check doneness by gently shaking the pan – the center should be slightly jiggly but not liquid, indicating a perfectly baked texture.
• Refrigerate bars in an airtight container for up to 5 days, allowing flavors to meld and texture to become more decadent.

Salted Caramel Spins: Fun Additions

• Gluten-Free Caramel Bars: Replace cake mix with gluten-free cake mix or almond flour blend for celiac or gluten-sensitive individuals.
• Dairy-Free Delight: Swap cream cheese with coconut cream and use vegan butter alternatives for lactose-intolerant bakers.
• Chocolate Caramel Version: Add cocoa powder to cake mix base and drizzle dark chocolate sauce alongside caramel for chocolate lovers.
• Low-Sugar Option: Use sugar-free caramel sauce, replace powdered sugar with stevia or monk fruit sweetener for diabetic-friendly dessert.

Butter Bars – Serving Suggestions

• Sweet Caramel Drizzle: Add extra caramel sauce on top of each bar just before serving for an indulgent touch that enhances the gooey texture.
• Party Presentation Platter: Arrange bars on a decorative platter with fresh mint leaves or edible flowers for an elegant dessert display that impresses guests.
• Ice Cream Companion: Serve warm bars alongside vanilla bean ice cream to create a decadent dessert experience with contrasting temperatures and creamy textures.
• Coffee Pairing Perfection: Complement the rich cake bars with a strong espresso or cappuccino to balance the sweetness and elevate the overall flavor profile.

Keep Those Bars Gooey, Even Tomorrow

• Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap to maintain moisture and prevent sticking.
• Place bars in a freezer-safe container, separating layers with parchment paper. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Warm individual bars for 10-15 seconds on medium power. Check temperature to avoid overheating and maintain gooey texture.
• Let frozen or refrigerated bars sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving to soften and enhance flavor.

FAQs

• What makes the crust different in this cake bar recipe?

The crust is made from a unique combination of cake mix, melted butter, and an egg, creating a rich and sturdy base that’s different from traditional graham cracker crusts.

• Can I use homemade caramel sauce instead of store-bought?

Absolutely! Homemade caramel sauce can enhance the flavor and give the bars a more personalized touch, just ensure it’s a similar consistency to the store-bought version.

• How do I know when the cake bars are perfectly baked?

Look for a golden color on top and a set center. The edges should be slightly pulling away from the pan, and the middle should not look liquid or overly jiggly when gently shaken.

Gooey Salted Caramel Butter Cake Bars Recipe

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• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Indulgent Salted Caramel Butter Cake Bars invite sweet seekers into a world of rich, buttery bliss. Creamy caramel layers and delicate salt create a luxurious dessert that melts hearts with each irresistible bite you’ll savor.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients (Cake and Filling):

• 1 box yellow cake mix (butter flavor)
• 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
• 3 large eggs

Liquid and Flavoring Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup salted caramel sauce
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon sea salt

Garnish and Optional Topping:

• 1/4 cup salted caramel sauce
• Sea salt flakes

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Instructions

1. Warm the oven to 350°F and thoroughly coat a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray or butter.
2. Combine cake mix, melted butter, and one egg into a cohesive dough, then firmly press the mixture across the entire bottom of the pan to create an even base layer.
3. Using an electric mixer, whip cream cheese with remaining eggs, pure vanilla extract, and powdered sugar until the mixture transforms into a silky, uniform consistency.
4. Gently distribute half of the cream cheese blend over the initial cake layer, ensuring complete coverage.
5. Elegantly drizzle caramel sauce across the cream cheese surface, creating delicate ribbons of sweetness.
6. Sprinkle a delicate layer of sea salt over the caramel, enhancing the flavor profile with a subtle savory touch.
7. Carefully pour the remaining cream cheese mixture, covering the caramel and salt layer completely.
8. Transfer the pan to the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, watching for a golden-brown surface and a firm, set texture.
9. Remove from oven and allow the dessert to cool entirely at room temperature, which helps the layers settle and firm up.
10. Once completely cooled, slice into precise rectangular bars, revealing the decadent layers within.

Notes

• Swap cake mix for gluten-free alternatives to make this dessert celiac-friendly without compromising texture.
• Reduce sugar content by using low-fat cream cheese and sugar-free caramel sauce for a lighter version.
• Enhance flavor by adding a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the cream cheese mixture for subtle warmth.
• Chill bars completely before cutting to achieve cleaner, more precise bar edges and easier serving.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 340 kcal
• Sugar: 32 g
• Sodium: 210 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg