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.
Ingredients
Scale
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
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350°F and thoroughly coat a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray or butter.
- 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.
- 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.
- Gently distribute half of the cream cheese blend over the initial cake layer, ensuring complete coverage.
- Elegantly drizzle caramel sauce across the cream cheese surface, creating delicate ribbons of sweetness.
- Sprinkle a delicate layer of sea salt over the caramel, enhancing the flavor profile with a subtle savory touch.
- Carefully pour the remaining cream cheese mixture, covering the caramel and salt layer completely.
- Transfer the pan to the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, watching for a golden-brown surface and a firm, set texture.
- Remove from oven and allow the dessert to cool entirely at room temperature, which helps the layers settle and firm up.
- 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