Caramel Bars
Ingredients:
- salted butter, room temperature - 1 pound
- sugar - 1 cup
- powdered sugar - 1 1/2 cups
- vanilla - 2 T
- flour - 4 cups
- caramel candy - 14 ounce bag
- milk or cream - 1/3 cup
- vanilla - 1/2 t
- coarse sea salt - 1 T
Instructions:
In a bowl, combine butter and the sugars, with mixer on medium speed, beat until creamy. Beat in 2 T vanilla. Sift flour into butter mixture, beat on low speed until a smooth soft dough forms. Press one-third of the dough evenly into a lightly greased 9 x 13 inch pan to form a bottom crust. Wrap remaining dough in plastic wrap and place in refrigerator. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven about 20 minutes until firm and edges are a pale golden brown. Place pan on a wire rack and cool for 15 minutes.
Prepare caramel filling while crust is baking -- melt caramels in a microwave-safe bowl. Add cream, microwave on high for 1 minute. Remove, stir until smooth. Add 1/2 t vanilla and stir until combined. Pour caramel filling over the crust. Sprinkle salt over caramel layer. Crumble chilled dough evenly over the caramel layer. Return pan to the oven and bake 25 - 30 minutes until filling is bubbly and the topping is firm and lightly golden. Cool before cutting into squares.
