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Caramel Crumb Bars

Indulge in homemade Caramel Crumb Bars, featuring a buttery shortbread base topped with rich salted caramel sauce and a crumbly topping. A perfect blend of sweetness and texture!
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Cooling Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 12 Pieces

Ingredients
  

For the Salted Caramel Sauce (Alternatively, a pre-made sauce may be used):

  • 1 cup 200 grams Granulated Sugar
  • 6 tablespoons 84 grams Unsalted Butter, cut into pieces
  • ½ cup 120 ml Heavy Cream
  • ½ teaspoon Coarse Salt

For the Shortbread Base and Crumb Topping:

  • ¾ cup 168 grams Unsalted Butter, melted
  • ¾ cup 150 grams Granulated Sugar
  • 1 ¾ cups 219 grams All-Purpose Flour
  • 3 tablespoons 22.5 grams Cornstarch (referred to as cornflour in Australia)
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt
  • 2 tablespoons Light Brown Sugar

For the Caramel Layer:

  • cup 160 ml Salted Caramel Sauce

Instructions

Preparing the Caramel Sauce:

  • In a medium saucepan, heat the granulated sugar over medium heat. Stir the sugar occasionally with a rubber spatula until it forms clumps and subsequently melts into an amber-colored liquid.
  • Once the sugar has fully melted and there are no lumps, carefully add the butter to the saucepan. The mixture will vigorously boil; continue stirring until the butter is mostly integrated into the mixture.
  • Reduce the heat to low and incorporate the heavy cream into the mixture, whisking until the sauce becomes smooth and uniform.
  • Remove the saucepan from the heat, stir in the coarse salt, and set aside to cool completely.

Making the Caramel Crumb Bars:

  • Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Prepare an 8x8 inch (20x20 cm) baking pan by lining it with parchment paper, ensuring an overhang on the edges for easy removal of the bars.
  • In a medium-sized bowl, combine the melted unsalted butter with the granulated sugar.
  • Gradually add the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and salt to the butter and sugar mixture, ensuring that there are no lumps. The dough should be thick and crumbly.
  • Firmly press slightly more than half of this dough into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Refrigerate the remaining dough.
  • Bake the base layer for approximately 20-25 minutes, or until the surface is set and begins to turn golden. Maintain the oven temperature after removing the base layer.
  • Allow the base layer to cool for 20-30 minutes, which is essential for the subsequent layers.
  • Spread ⅔ cup of the salted caramel sauce evenly over the cooled base. If using the prepared caramel sauce from this recipe, note that not all of it may be required.
  • Add the light brown sugar to the remaining dough, mixing until it achieves a crumbly texture. Evenly sprinkle this crumbly mixture over the caramel layer, allowing some caramel to remain visible.
  • Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes, or until the crumble topping is golden and the caramel layer visibly bubbles.
  • Remove the baking pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan, which will take at least 3 hours. For quicker cooling, the pan may be placed in the refrigerator.
  • To serve, lift the bars out of the pan using the overhanging parchment paper, transfer to a cutting board, and slice into desired portions using a sharp knife.
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