Best Pine Nut Caramel Sea Salt Shortbread Bars Recipes

PINE NUT CARAMEL SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Pat onto the bottom of a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Prick dough thoroughly with a fork., Bake at 375° for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce temperature to 325°., In a large saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar, honey, sugar, cream and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until a candy thermometer reads 234° (soft-ball stage). Remove from the heat; stir in pine nuts and vanilla. Spread evenly over crust., Bake for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly. Place pan on a wire rack., Sprinkle the top with coarse salt if desired. Cool completely. Cut into bars. Store in an airtight container.

SALTED-CARAMEL SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13 baking pan with foil, extending over the sides. Spray the foil liberally with cooking spray and set aside.
• 2. In a mixing bowl beat together butter and sugar until creamy and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla. Lastly, mix in flour (4 cups) until soft dough forms. Press HALF of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Refrigerate the remaining dough.
• 3. Bake the crust for 15 minutes . Remove from the oven. In a small bowl combine caramel sauce, 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, and remaining 2 Tablespoons of flour. Mix well. Pour evenly over cooked crust.
• 4. Crumble the refrigerated dough on top of caramel layer. Cover the caramel completely and use ALL of the dough (caramel will bubble up ... pay close attention to the edges). Sprinkle generously with sea salt. (I suggest tasting the caramel sauce to gauge how much additional salt is desired.)
• 5. Return to oven and continue baking for an additional 25-30 minutes or until golden brown (very light) and the caramel is bubbly. Cool completely before cutting in to squares.

SALTED CARAMEL PEANUT BARS

Steps:

• Butter a 9 1/2-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet or quarter sheet pan and line it with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on the 2 long sides. Then butter the parchment.
• Whisk the flour, cornstarch, kosher salt and cinnamon in a large bowl.
• Beat the butter and sugar in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat to combine, scraping down the sides as needed. Slowly add the flour mixture and beat on low until the dough is just combined; do not overwork.
• Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet, spreading it out as evenly as possible with a silicone spatula. Cover with plastic wrap, then use your hands to press and flatten the dough into a smooth even layer. Pull back the plastic wrap and use a fork to prick the dough all over. Cover again and refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.
• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• Uncover the dough and bake, rotating the baking sheet from front to back halfway through, until golden, 45 to 50 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Combine the caramels and cream in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes. Pour the mixture over the shortbread and spread it evenly. Immediately sprinkle with the peanuts and a large pinch of flaky salt. Gently push down on the topping to make sure it sticks to the caramel. Let cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Use the parchment overhang to gently lift the shortbread and slide it onto a cutting board. Remove the parchment and cut into 24 squares. Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

SALTED CARAMEL SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, then line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on 2 sides; butter the parchment.
• Beat 2 1/2 sticks butter, the granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour and beat until just incorporated.
• Transfer the dough to the prepared baking dish and set a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface. Press into an even layer, then peel off the plastic. Bake until golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool slightly, then remove from the pan using the parchment. Cut into triangles.
• Make the caramel: Combine the remaining 1/2 stick butter, the brown sugar, corn syrup, heavy cream, espresso powder and kosher salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until a candy thermometer registers 235 degrees F, about 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla and the vinegar. Let cool 5 minutes, then drizzle over the shortbread. Sprinkle with sea salt.

CARAMEL NUT BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients until crumbly; sprinkle 1 cup into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan (do not press). , Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. In a small heavy saucepan, cook and stir caramels and milk until caramels are melted. , Pour over crust. Top with chocolate chips and nuts. Sprinkle with remaining oat mixture. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate until set.

PINE NUT CARAMEL BARS

Steps:

• For pastry:.
• Preheat oven to 350°F Line 8-inch square glass baking dish with foil.
• Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until light.
• Add sugar and lemon peel and beat until light and fluffy.
• Mix flour, cornstarch and salt in small bowl.
• Add to butter mixture and mix until beginning to gather together.
• Press dough over bottom and 1 inch up sides of prepared dish.
• Pierce dough all over with fork.
• Bake until beginning to color, about 35 minutes.
• Remove crust from oven; maintain oven temperature.
• Topping:.
• Combine butter, packed dark brown sugar and honey in heavy medium saucepan.
• Whisk over medium-high heat until mixture comes to boil.
• Boil without whisking until mixture thickens and bubbles enlarge, about 1 minute.
• Stir in pine nuts.
• Remove from heat; stir in whipping cream.
• Spread topping in crust.
• Bake until caramel bubbles, about 20 minutes.
• Cool completely in pan on rack.
• Remove from pan, using foil as aid.
• Cut into squares.

PINE NUT CARAMEL BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 8-inch square glass baking dish with foil. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until light. Add sugar and lemon peel and beat until light and fluffy. Mix flour, cornstarch and salt in small bowl. Add to butter mixture and mix until beginning to gather together. Press dough over bottom and 1 inch up sides of prepared dish. Pierce dough all over with fork. Bake until beginning to color, about 35 minutes. Remove crust from oven; maintain oven temperature.
• Combine butter, packed dark brown sugar and honey in heavy medium saucepan. Whisk over medium-high heat until mixture comes to boil. Boil without whisking until mixture thickens and bubbles enlarge, about 1 minute. Stir in pine nuts. Remove from heat; stir in whipping cream.
• Spread topping in crust. Bake until caramel bubbles, about 20 minutes. Cool completely in pan on rack. Remove from pan, using foil as aid. Cut into squares. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Store in airtight container.)