Savvy Entertaining

I love shortbread. I love caramel. I’m even learning to appreciated salt on my caramel. So why not combine the three?

This is a quick and simple recipe that will earn you many rave reviews!

Ingredients for Shortbread. Cream butter and eggs, stir in flour and vanilla.

Press dough into an 8×8 baking pan and bake until set.

Ingredients for caramel filling. Mix in a heavy saucepan and follow directions below because I realized after I started making this that my sweetened condenses milk expired a year ago and being the paranoid-freakazoid I am, I just couldn’t make myself use it even though it looked fine. In a panic, I used caramel sauce from a jar, which I would not recommend if you want these to look pretty.

Chill the bars until caramel is set then sprinkle with sea salt. You can also drizzle with chocolate if you desire (which I always do).

Salted Caramel Shortbread Bars

For the Shortbread

1 cup flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 stick of butter

1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together sugar and butter. Stir in flour and vanilla. Press into a greased (spray with Pam) 8×8 baking pan. Bake until shortbread is set but not brown (about 10-13 minutes). Remove from oven and let cool slightly before pouring on caramel layer.

For the caramel layer

1  sticks  butter, cut into pieces

1/2 cup sugar

2 tbsp. light corn syrup

1 (14 oz.) cans sweetened condensed milk

To make the caramel layer, combine the butter, sugar, corn syrup and condensed milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter is melted.  Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer, stirring constantly.  Continue simmering and stirring until the mixture turns an amber color and thickens slightly.  Pour the mixture over the shortbread layer, smooth the top, and allow to cool completely and set.  Make sure you use a heavy-duty saucepan or you’ll have burnt bits in your caramel.

When cool (I stuck mine in the fridge to hurry things along) sprinkle with sea salt. Cut into squares and enjoy!

She Who Needs to Stock up on Sweetened Condensed Milk