This Salted Chocolate Caramel Bars Recipe is a partnered effort with the Bake a Difference with OXO for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer campaign. All opinions are my own.
Confession: this recipe is totally outside my comfort zone. Totally. It has a shortbread base and a made-from-scratch caramel topping. Neither of which I’ve ever even attempted before. That said, I’m always up for a new challenge and these Salted Chocolate Caramel Bars turned out really delicious. Also, learning how to make shortbread (surprisingly simple) was really fun!
Did you know shortbread is only three ingredients? Flour, butter, and sugar. Four (cocoa powder) if you want to make it chocolate. I was so surprised to learn it has no egg! I was also confounded by the way it comes together. You beat it and beat it and beat it, and it looks like it will never come together and then… all of the sudden… BOOM. It’s dough! Weirdest thing. But also, really cool.
HINT: If you’re totally not comfortable making chocolate caramel from scratch, you can melt some caramel candy and a handful of chocolate chips in the microwave. Won’t be quite as authentic, but we understand. Sometimes you just need a shortcut!
We made this recipe from Dorie Greenspan’s new cookbook COOKIES BY DORIE as part of the Bake a Difference with OXO for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer campaign. This month, OXO will be donating $100 to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer for each blog post dedicated to this campaign, up to their $100,000 commitment. To help us make these delicious Salted Chocolate Caramel Bars, OXO sent me their lidded 2 qt and 3 qt baking dishes, a brownie spatula, and their new Illuminating Digital Hand Mixer.
Shop for more OXO favorites with our Amazon affiliate links:
- OXO Good Grips 7-Piece Nesting Measuring Beaker Set
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makes: 21 bars
author: Dorie Greenspan
Salted Chocolate Caramel Bars, Ingredients:
- For the Shortbread Base
- 1 cup (136 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1⁄4 cup (21 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons; 4 ounces; 113 grams) unsalted butter, cut into chunks, at room temperature
- 1⁄3 cup (67 grams) sugar
- 1⁄4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- For the Caramel Topping
- 1 cup (200 grams) sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 1⁄2 cup (120 ml) heavy cream, at room temperature (or slightly warmed in a microwave)
- 2 tablespoons (1 ounce; 28 grams) unsalted butter, cut into 3 pieces and very soft
- 1⁄4 teaspoon fleur de sel or a good-size pinch of fine sea salt
- 2 ounces (57 grams) bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
- About 1⁄2 cup (60 grams) pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped
Salted Chocolate Caramel Bars, Directions:
- Center a rack in the oven and preheat it to 350 degrees F. Generously butter (or spray) an 8-inch square pan.
- TO MAKE THE SHORTBREAD BASE:
- Whisk together the flour and cocoa powder.
- Working with a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat the butter, sugar and salt together on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Turn off the mixer, add the dry ingredients all at once and beat on low until the dough comes together. This will take a little longer than you might expect, so don’t get discouraged. Give the dough a few last turns with a flexible spatula and scrape it out into the pan. Using your fingertips, pat the dough evenly over the bottom of the pan; press down and make sure to get the dough into the corners.
- Bake the shortbread for 21 to 23 minutes, rotating the pan after 10 minutes, or until it is slightly darker around the edges and just starting to pull away from the sides of the pan; it will not feel completely firm if poked gently. Transfer the pan to a rack and allow the shortbread to cool completely.
- TO MAKE THE CARAMEL TOPPING:
- Put a heatproof bowl close to the stovetop, along with a small bowl of cold water and a pastry brush (preferably silicone).
- Put the sugar, water and corn syrup in a small saucepan or skillet and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Allow the ingredients to bubble away, brushing down the sides of the pan with cold water if there are spatters and swirling the pan a couple of times once you start seeing some color, until the caramel turns a pale to medium amber. (Don’t let it get as dark as mahogany.) Lower the heat, stand away from the pan and add the cream, followed by the butter and salt — ingredients that might cause the caramel to roil. Remove the pan from the heat, drop in the chocolate and, using a silicone spatula or wooden spoon, stir to blend.
- Pour the hot caramel over the shortbread and sprinkle with the nuts. Allow to set at room temperature.
- When the caramel is firm, run a table knife around the sides of the pan, care- fully unmold the cookie onto a rack and turn it over onto a cutting board. Using a long thin knife, cut 21 bars (cut into 3 strips and then cut each strip into 7 bars). Alternatively, leave the cookie whole and cut individual bars as needed.
- STORING:
-
- When the caramel is fully set, the cookies (cut or intact) can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 5 days. Remove them from the refrigerator about 10 minutes before serving.
Salted Chocolate Caramel Bars
This Salted Chocolate Caramel Bars Recipe is a partnered effort with the Bake a Difference with OXO for Cookies for Kids' Cancer campaign. All opinions are my own.Print Pin RateServings: 8Calories: 300kcalIngredients
For the Shortbread Base
- 1 cup 136 grams all-purpose flour
- 1 ⁄4 cup 21 grams unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 stick 8 tablespoons; 4 ounces; 113 grams unsalted butter, cut into chunks, at room temperature
- 1 ⁄3 cup 67 grams sugar
- 1 ⁄4 teaspoon fine sea salt
For the Caramel Topping
- 1 cup 200 grams sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 1 ⁄2 cup 120 ml heavy cream, at room temperature (or slightly warmed in a microwave)
- 2 tablespoons 1 ounce; 28 grams unsalted butter, cut into 3 pieces and very soft
- 1 ⁄4 teaspoon fleur de sel or a good-size pinch of fine sea salt
- 2 ounces 57 grams bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
- About 1⁄2 cup 60 grams pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Center a rack in the oven and preheat it to 350 degrees F. Generously butter (or spray) an 8-inch square pan.
TO MAKE THE SHORTBREAD BASE:
- Whisk together the flour and cocoa powder.
- Working with a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat the butter, sugar and salt together on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Turn off the mixer, add the dry ingredients all at once and beat on low until the dough comes together. This will take a little longer than you might expect, so don’t get discouraged. Give the dough a few last turns with a flexible spatula and scrape it out into the pan. Using your fingertips, pat the dough evenly over the bottom of the pan; press down and make sure to get the dough into the corners.
- Bake the shortbread for 21 to 23 minutes, rotating the pan after 10 minutes, or until it is slightly darker around the edges and just starting to pull away from the sides of the pan; it will not feel completely firm if poked gently. Transfer the pan to a rack and allow the shortbread to cool completely.
TO MAKE THE CARAMEL TOPPING:
- Put a heatproof bowl close to the stovetop, along with a small bowl of cold water and a pastry brush (preferably silicone).
- Put the sugar, water and corn syrup in a small saucepan or skillet and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Allow the ingredients to bubble away, brushing down the sides of the pan with cold water if there are spatters and swirling the pan a couple of times once you start seeing some color, until the caramel turns a pale to medium amber. (Don’t let it get as dark as mahogany.) Lower the heat, stand away from the pan and add the cream, followed by the butter and salt — ingredients that might cause the caramel to roil. Remove the pan from the heat, drop in the chocolate and, using a silicone spatula or wooden spoon, stir to blend.
- Pour the hot caramel over the shortbread and sprinkle with the nuts. Allow to set at room temperature.
- When the caramel is firm, run a table knife around the sides of the pan, care- fully unmold the cookie onto a rack and turn it over onto a cutting board. Using a long thin knife, cut 21 bars (cut into 3 strips and then cut each strip into 7 bars). Alternatively, leave the cookie whole and cut individual bars as needed.
STORING:
- When the caramel is fully set, the cookies (cut or intact) can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 5 days. Remove them from the refrigerator about 10 minutes before serving.
If you love cookbooks, CLICK HERE to check out our subscriber special!Notes
Calories are automatically generated. For best results calculate based on your exact ingredients.Nutrition
Calories: 300kcalWant even more?Follow Mama Loves Food on Pinterest!
- When the caramel is fully set, the cookies (cut or intact) can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 5 days. Remove them from the refrigerator about 10 minutes before serving.
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makes: 21 bars
author: Dorie Greenspan
Salted Chocolate Caramel Bars, Ingredients:
- For the Shortbread Base
- 1 cup (136 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1⁄4 cup (21 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons; 4 ounces; 113 grams) unsalted butter, cut into chunks, at room temperature
- 1⁄3 cup (67 grams) sugar
- 1⁄4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- For the Caramel Topping
- 1 cup (200 grams) sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 1⁄2 cup (120 ml) heavy cream, at room temperature (or slightly warmed in a microwave)
- 2 tablespoons (1 ounce; 28 grams) unsalted butter, cut into 3 pieces and very soft
- 1⁄4 teaspoon fleur de sel or a good-size pinch of fine sea salt
- 2 ounces (57 grams) bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
- About 1⁄2 cup (60 grams) pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped
Salted Chocolate Caramel Bars, Directions:
- Center a rack in the oven and preheat it to 350 degrees F. Generously butter (or spray) an 8-inch square pan.
- TO MAKE THE SHORTBREAD BASE:
- Whisk together the flour and cocoa powder.
- Working with a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat the butter, sugar and salt together on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Turn off the mixer, add the dry ingredients all at once and beat on low until the dough comes together. This will take a little longer than you might expect, so don’t get discouraged. Give the dough a few last turns with a flexible spatula and scrape it out into the pan. Using your fingertips, pat the dough evenly over the bottom of the pan; press down and make sure to get the dough into the corners.
- Bake the shortbread for 21 to 23 minutes, rotating the pan after 10 minutes, or until it is slightly darker around the edges and just starting to pull away from the sides of the pan; it will not feel completely firm if poked gently. Transfer the pan to a rack and allow the shortbread to cool completely.
- TO MAKE THE CARAMEL TOPPING:
- Put a heatproof bowl close to the stovetop, along with a small bowl of cold water and a pastry brush (preferably silicone).
- Put the sugar, water and corn syrup in a small saucepan or skillet and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Allow the ingredients to bubble away, brushing down the sides of the pan with cold water if there are spatters and swirling the pan a couple of times once you start seeing some color, until the caramel turns a pale to medium amber. (Don’t let it get as dark as mahogany.) Lower the heat, stand away from the pan and add the cream, followed by the butter and salt — ingredients that might cause the caramel to roil. Remove the pan from the heat, drop in the chocolate and, using a silicone spatula or wooden spoon, stir to blend.
- Pour the hot caramel over the shortbread and sprinkle with the nuts. Allow to set at room temperature.
- When the caramel is firm, run a table knife around the sides of the pan, care- fully unmold the cookie onto a rack and turn it over onto a cutting board. Using a long thin knife, cut 21 bars (cut into 3 strips and then cut each strip into 7 bars). Alternatively, leave the cookie whole and cut individual bars as needed.
- STORING:
-
- When the caramel is fully set, the cookies (cut or intact) can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 5 days. Remove them from the refrigerator about 10 minutes before serving.
Karen Kerr says
Can you tell me what the heatproof bowl is for making the caramel?
April says
that's an excellent question! i don't remember using it… this isn't my original recipe, it's from the cookbook. i'll have to ask 😉
Tanya Schroeder says
I love ALL things salted caramel!
lauren kelly says
These are beyond amazing!! They were the first ones gone at our party!
Amy says
I wish I could make these today because I love anything salted caramel! Yum!
Laura Reese says
Salted caramel is the best. The shortbread layer makes this treat extra tasty.
Jocelyn says
Sweet and salty treats are my favorite. These gooey bars were amazing and disappeared so quickly!