Salted Caramel Nut Bars
Why I Love This Recipe
This recipe is one I got from my aunt Laural. She says it's a lot like the caramel nut bars she has had from a bakery in Stillwater, OK. You cut them in small pieces, so one batch makes several food gifts and has been a hit with everyone I've shared them with.
Submitted by: "Linda Ayers"
Ingredients You'll Need
1 lb. salted butter
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 T vanilla
4 cups flour
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
Filling:
14 oz. caramels (about 50 caramels)
1/3 cup cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 Tablespoon coarse sea salt
Directions
In a large mixer bowl, combine butter and sugars. Beat until creamy. Add vanilla; mix.
Gradually add flour, beating on low until smooth dough forms.
Add chopped nuts.
Spray bottom and sides of 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
Line with parchment paper.
Press about 1/3 of dough evenly in bottom to form bottom crust.
Chill remaining dough until ready to use.
Bake bottom crust at 325 degrees for 15 - 20 min. until firm.
Cool 15 min.
Make filling by placing caramels in saucepan with cream.
Heat on low and stir until smooth.
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
Pour filling over crust.
Evenly sprinkle salt over caramel layer.
Crumble remaining dough over caramel.
Return to oven and bake about 25 min. or until top crust is firm and lightly golden.
Cool before cutting. Cut into small squares and then half into triangles.
