DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU

I first had these delicious salted caramel butter bars a few months ago at a dinner party.  

It was love at first bite.  I had them again in February at a girls' night out and I ate so many, I literally made myself sick.  Did I mention I am lacking in the will power department?  

I finally got my hands on the recipe last week and I made them on Sunday afternoon.  

My son tried one and immediately said, "I don't like them!"  

I couldn't believe my ears.  

He followed it up with "I love them!"

I sure do and I think you will too.  

Here's the recipe from Cookies and Cups

Salted Caramel Butter Bars

For the Crust:

1 lb. salted butter room temp

1 cup sugar

1½ cups powdered sugar

2 Tbs vanilla  

4 cups all purpose flour

For the Filling:
1 bag (14 oz.) caramel candies (about 50 individual caramels), unwrapped

1/3 cup milk or cream

½ teaspoon vanilla

1 T. coarse sea salt (optional)

To make the crust:

In a large bowl, combine the butter and sugars. Using mixer on medium speed, 

beat together until creamy. Add the vanilla and beat until combined. 

Sift the flour into the butter mixture and beat on low speed until a smooth soft dough forms.

Spray a 9×13 inch baking pan lightly with non-stick cooking spray. 

Press one-third of the dough evenly into the pan to form a bottom crust, 

and place the remainder of the dough in the fridge to chill.

Preheat to 325F.

Bake until firm and the edges are a pale golden brown approx 20 minutes. 

Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool about 15 minutes.

 While the bottom crust is baking and the remaining dough is chilling, make the caramel filling.

Place the unwrapped caramels in a microwave-safe bowl. Add the cream and vanilla.   

Microwave on high for 1 minute. Remove from the microwave and stir until smooth. 

If caramels are not completely melted, microwave on high for 30-second intervals, 

stirring after each interval, until smooth.

Pour the caramel filling over the crust.
If you are going to salt the caramel sprinkle it on caramel layer now.

Remove the remaining chilled dough from the refrigerator and crumble it evenly over the caramel.

Return the pan to the oven and bake until the filling is bubbly and the crumbled shortbread topping is firm and lightly golden, about 25 – 30 minutes.

Let cool before cutting into squares.

Take note of the pound of butter in this recipe.  Uhhmmmm, wonder why they're so good?