Irresistible 5-Ingredient Salted Caramel Crumble Bars: Your Go-To Easy Dessert Recipe!

Indulge in the perfect balance of sweet and salty with these incredible Salted Caramel Crumble Bars. Crafted with just 5 simple ingredients, they feature a luscious buttery base, a rich, gooey caramel center, and a delightful crumble topping. So effortless to make, these bars are guaranteed to become a staple on your baking list!

Prepare to fall in love with a dessert that’s as simple to make as it is utterly delicious. There’s something undeniably magical about gooey caramel, especially when paired with a hint of sea salt and nestled between layers of buttery goodness. These Salted Caramel Crumble Bars take that magic to a whole new level, offering an incredibly satisfying treat that everyone will rave about. The best part? This recipe leverages a clever store-bought shortcut, making it incredibly quick and easy to prepare, perfect for those busy days when you crave homemade comfort without the fuss.

These salted caramel bars truly could not be simpler to whip up. The foundation of this fantastic dessert starts with a roll of store-bought sugar cookie dough, which provides a wonderfully consistent and buttery base with minimal effort. While the convenience of pre-made dough is a huge time-saver, you absolutely have the option to make your own sugar cookie dough from scratch if you prefer! For a truly homemade touch, consider using a recipe like Frosted Sugar Cookies or adapting a recipe for Sugar Cookie Bars. If you choose the homemade route, simply prepare your dough and press it into an 8-inch square pan, just as you would with the store-bought variety. For large gatherings or a potluck, you can easily press homemade dough into an 11×17 pan to create a big batch of these crowd-pleasing bars.

Thinking about feeding a hungry crowd or bringing a show-stopping dessert to a potluck? Going the “big batch” route is definitely the way to go! If you opt for a larger pan, simply triple the quantities of the remaining ingredients in the recipe to ensure every bar is perfectly layered and flavorful. These bars are so incredibly good, they have a way of disappearing almost instantly, so making a bigger batch means more happy faces and less disappointment when they’re gone too fast!

Why These Salted Caramel Crumble Bars Are Your New Favorite Dessert

There are countless reasons to adore these simple yet sophisticated bars. Beyond their minimal ingredient list and quick preparation time, they offer a host of benefits:

• Effortless Elegance: They look impressive, but only you’ll know how little effort went into making them! Perfect for surprising guests or treating your family.
• Perfect Flavor Harmony: The combination of sweet caramel and a sprinkle of coarse sea salt creates an addictive flavor profile that truly satisfies.
• Incredible Texture: Enjoy the contrast between the soft, chewy sugar cookie base, the rich, smooth caramel, and the delightful crunch of the pecan crumble.
• Versatile Treat: Ideal for dessert trays, holiday baking, school functions, office potlucks, or simply a cozy evening snack with a cup of coffee.
• Customizable: Easily adapt the nuts or add other mix-ins to suit your personal taste.

Gather Your 5 Key Ingredients

These bars are truly a testament to how incredible a dessert can be with just a few quality ingredients. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions.

Here’s what you’ll need to make these delightful Salted Caramel Crumble Bars:

• Sugar Cookie Dough: One roll (16.5 oz) of refrigerated sugar cookie dough. This is our secret weapon for speed and simplicity, forming the perfect buttery base and part of the crumble.
• All-Purpose Flour: Just a small amount is needed to give the caramel topping the right consistency, preventing it from being too runny and ensuring it sets beautifully.
• Caramel Topping: Opt for a good quality, pourable caramel sauce, similar to what you’d use for ice cream. This creates the luscious, gooey center that defines these bars.
• Coarse Sea Salt: This is crucial for achieving that irresistible sweet and salty contrast. The larger flakes provide bursts of saltiness that cut through the sweetness of the caramel.
• Chopped Pecans: They add a wonderful nutty crunch and flavor to the crumble topping. While pecans are highly recommended, you can really use any nut you like – walnuts or even roasted peanuts make excellent alternatives!

Baking Your Salted Caramel Crumb Bars: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

You’ll be amazed at how quickly these bars come together, even when your schedule is packed. Their impressive flavor and appearance make them a fantastic addition to any cookie tray or dessert spread, fancy enough to serve at parties yet comforting enough for a weeknight treat.

1. Prepare Your Pan: First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal later.
2. Form the Base: Take half of the sugar cookie dough and break it into pieces. Press these pieces evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan, forming a solid, uniform crust. Set the remaining half of the cookie dough aside – this will be used for your crumble topping!
3. Pre-Bake the Crust: Bake the cookie dough base for 15 to 20 minutes, or until it turns a light golden brown around the edges. This pre-baking step ensures a firm, perfectly cooked foundation for your bars. Once baked, remove from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.
4. Prepare the Caramel Filling: While the crust is cooling, grab a small bowl. Pour in your caramel topping and add the all-purpose flour. Stir these two ingredients together thoroughly until they are well blended and the mixture is smooth. The flour helps to thicken the caramel slightly during baking, preventing it from being too runny.
5. Layer the Caramel: Carefully pour the flour-enhanced caramel mixture over the warm, pre-baked crust in the pan. Gently spread the caramel evenly with a spatula, making sure to leave about a 1/4-inch border from the edge of the pan.
6. Add Salt and Nuts: Evenly sprinkle the coarse sea salt over the caramel layer. This is where the magic of “salted caramel” truly comes alive! Then, sprinkle 1/4 cup of the chopped pecans over the salted caramel.
7. Create the Crumble Topping: In the same small bowl you used for the caramel (no need to wash it!), combine the remaining half of the sugar cookie dough with the remaining chopped pecans. Use your fingers or a fork to mix and crumble these together until well blended and a crumbly texture is achieved.
8. Top and Bake: Evenly sprinkle this cookie dough and pecan crumble mixture over the caramel layer in the pan. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 30 to 35 minutes, or until the crumble topping is beautifully golden brown and the caramel is bubbly around the edges.
9. Cool Completely: This step is critical for perfectly set bars! Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature for at least 1 hour before attempting to slice them. This cooling time allows the caramel to firm up, making for clean cuts and preventing a gooey mess.

The beauty of these layered bars is how deceptively simple they are. With a pre-made sugar cookie dough base and just a few pantry staples, you create a dessert that tastes incredibly complex and homemade. Your friends and family will think you spent hours in the kitchen perfecting these delicious treats – you certainly don’t have to reveal your easy secret!

Pro Tips for Perfect Salted Caramel Crumble Bars Every Time

• Cooling is Key: This cannot be stressed enough! Allowing the bars to cool completely for at least an hour (or even longer at room temperature) is vital. Warm caramel is runny, and trying to slice warm bars will result in a sticky, uneven mess. Patience will be rewarded with neat, perfectly set squares.
• Nut Varieties: Don’t limit yourself to pecans! Walnuts, almonds, or even roasted peanuts would offer a delicious twist to the crumble topping. Feel free to use your favorite nut or a combination for added flavor and texture. If you have nut allergies, you can omit them entirely or use toasted oats for a similar crunch.
• Choosing Your Caramel: For best results, use a thick, pourable caramel sauce, often found in the ice cream topping aisle. Avoid very thin sauces or extremely thick, solid caramels (unless melted and thinned). If your caramel seems too thin, adding a bit more flour (up to 1/4 cup total) to the caramel mixture can help.
• Chocolate Lover’s Delight: For a delightful mocha-caramel fusion, sprinkle a handful of mini chocolate chips over the caramel layer before adding the crumble topping. Dark chocolate chips will add a nice bitterness to balance the sweetness, while milk chocolate will make them extra decadent.
• Pan Size Matters: An 8-inch square pan is recommended for the stated recipe quantities. If using a different size, adjust baking times accordingly. A larger pan will yield thinner bars that bake faster, while a smaller pan will result in thicker bars requiring more baking time.
• Parchment Paper Aid: Lining your pan with parchment paper not only prevents sticking but also allows you to easily lift the entire cooled slab of bars out of the pan. This makes slicing much simpler and cleaner.
• Don’t Overmix the Crumble: When combining the remaining cookie dough and pecans for the crumble, mix just until combined and crumbly. Overmixing can develop gluten in the cookie dough, leading to a tougher rather than tender crumble.

Storage and Serving Suggestions

Proper storage ensures your Salted Caramel Crumble Bars remain as delicious as the day you baked them.

Storage

These bars are at their absolute best when stored at room temperature in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Storing them in the refrigerator will cause the caramel to firm up significantly, making them less gooey and chewy. If you prefer them slightly firmer, refrigeration is fine, but for that perfect melt-in-your-mouth experience, room temperature is ideal.

Serving Ideas

While these bars are fantastic on their own, here are a few ways to elevate your serving experience:

• Warm Delight: Briefly warm a bar in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to soften the caramel and enhance the gooey texture.
• A La Mode: Serve a warm bar with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for an irresistible dessert.
• Coffee Companion: These bars pair wonderfully with a hot cup of coffee, tea, or even a glass of cold milk.
• Dessert Platter: Cut them into smaller squares for a varied dessert platter at parties or holidays.

Craving More Sweet Treats? Explore These Delicious Dessert Recipes!

• S’mores Cookie Bars: All the campfire fun in an easy bar form!
• Cake Batter Cookies: Fun, festive, and ridiculously easy cookies that taste like a party.
• Lunch Lady Brownies: A nostalgic, fudgy classic that brings back childhood memories.
• Sugar Cookie Chex Mix: A sweet and crunchy snack that’s perfect for holidays or everyday munching.
• Peanut Butter Cake: A rich, moist cake for any peanut butter lover.

Join our fun and vibrant community on Facebook! It’s the perfect place to share your own favorite recipes, ask baking questions, and stay updated on all the new recipes and happenings at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts. We’d love to have you!

Be sure to follow us on Instagram and tag #dinnersdishes so we can see all the wonderful creations YOU make from our recipes!

Don’t miss a single delicious post – follow us on all our social media channels!

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

**This post is sponsored by Pillsbury. We were compensated for our time to create and share this recipe. All thoughts and opinions expressed are 100% our own.