Browned Butter Sugar Cookie Bars with Salted Caramel Frosting
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Browned Butter Sugar Cookie Bars with Salted Caramel Frosting…whew! I know it’s a mouthful to say, but once you have a mouthful of these bars you’ll never forget the name. Delicious, rich, moist, just the right amount of sweet and salty, with a touch of decadent and nutty browned butter that greatly enhances the cookie, topped off with…wait for it…salted caramel frosting! Shut the front door! These are out of this world, if you like caramel, butter, sweet & salty mix.
BROWNED BUTTER SUGAR COOKIE BARS WITH SALTED CARAMEL FROSTING
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I was looking for something a bit different for a swim team potluck and came across this recipe that I had tucked away. Don’t be afraid to brown butter, it’s really not that hard, but you do need to stay on it. I discovered these from The Recipe Critic and they are winners! Check her blog out, it’s darling and has wonderful recipes!
Start over medium-low heat and melt your butter, once it’s melted watch it closely.
Once melted, bring to a simmer, whisking constantly, it will start foam up slightly just before it starts browning, continue whisking until lightly browned. Remove it from the heat once it’s giving off a slightly nutty aroma and is a beautiful caramel color, careful you don’t burn it. Remove from heat and allow to cool while prepping the rest of your ingredients.
Next, add your dark brown sugar and regular sugar, I used my usual unbleached natural cane sugar.
With mixer on low speed, slowly mix in your slightly cooled butter into the sugar mixture, mix until smooth.
With mixer on medium, add eggs one at a time until mixture is well creamed, about 2-3 minutes.
Measure flour and pour in while mixing on low.
Toss in sea salt and combine. Scrape down sides, but don’t over mix. It should now be the consistency of peanut butter. In fact, it looks a lot like peanut butter!
Pour into prepared pan, I just lined mine with parchment for easy lifting out to slice. If you don’t line your pan, be sure to spray or grease well.
Use a spatula and spread to corners.
Bake as directed, under-baking slightly, I kept mine in for an extra couple minutes and I shouldn’t have, they would have had a chewier bite had I taken them out on time. Remove from oven and cool before frosting. I baked for 22, I’d go for 20 and keep it at that.
SALTED CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM
While baking, make your frosting. Melt your butter and brown sugar together in a saucepan over low heat, allow to come to boil and whisk in milk, returning to a boil.
Remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar, whisking until smooth. I ended up pulling out my handheld mixer and just whirred it for a minute or so to remove those lumps of powdered sugar.
Spread on warm or cooled bars. If easier, lifting out bars from pan. Spread the frosting over the cooled cookie bars.
Sprinkle a little sea salt. I used a little Fleur de Sel because it makes me a bit crazy! Those little tiny pieces of salt that are filled with HUGE flavor.
Take little pinches and just sprinkle over the top of the bars. Obviously, omitting if you don’t like the salt, but if you haven’t tried it, oh please do!
Slice into small squares, these go a long way since they are so rich! Kind of like these sugar cookie bites or brownie bites.
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BAKERS TIP: Using parchment lined pans makes cutting the bars as easy as cake, pie, bars! Just lift them out of the pan onto a cutting board. Using a nice long knife, run the blade under hot water so the blade slides right through the frosting, wipe the blade with a paper towel after each cut, this will remove any cling-ons from the bars (not to be confused with Klingon’s. Yes, it’s true, I admit it, I’m a “Trekky”).
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Sugar Cookie Bars with Browned Butter and Salted Caramel Frosting
Equipment
Ingredients
Sugar Cookie Bars
- 13 tablespoons butter, melted and browned
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar, regular or all natural cane sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 cups all-purpose, unbleached flour, plus add 2 tablespoons of flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
Salted Caramel Frosting
- ½ cup butter, 1 stick
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup milk
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
- Sea Salt for sprinkling, Fleur de Sel
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°. Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper or spray with oil.
- In medium sized pan add the butter and cook over medium heat, whisking, butter will foam up and then calm down, keep whisking until you see the butter start to turn a golden brown, it'll take 2-3 minutes. It'll give off a nutty aroma. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Meanwhile, place your dark brown sugar and regular sugar in the bowl of a mixer. Combine sugars with vanilla, and slowly pour in browned butter. Mix to combine. Add eggs and mix to combine. Add flour and salt and mix until just combined, careful not to over mix. Scrape down sides.
- Spread evenly into the bottom of your prepared 9x13 pan, The dough will be thick, like peanut butter. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the edges are lightly brown and just starting to pull from sides. Remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.
- While cooling make frosting.Melt butter and packed light brown sugar, bring to simmer. Add ¼ cup milk and return to simmer whisking constantly. Remove from heat and add powdered sugar, whisking until incorporated and lumps are gone. If needed, use hand mixer for smoothness. May frost warm or cooled.
- Frost cookies and sprinkle with sea salt, Fleur de Sel is wonderful, but not necessary. Cut into 2x2 squares Cover any leftovers tightly, if there are any! May be frozen.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
The Fresh Cooky is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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About Kathleen Pope
Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer
Hi, I’m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen. Read more about Kathleen here.
After reading these two recipes I WILL NOT “shut the front door” –I’m kickin’ it down to get to these!
As always, THANK YOU
Oh BKS you make me smile! ?