THIRD PLACE - SALTED CARAMEL BUTTER BARS
2 cups butter, softened 1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla 4 cups flour
One 14-ounce bag caramels, unwrapped or 11-ounce unwrapped Caramel Bits
⅓ cup whipping cream 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
extract
1 tablespoon coarse sea salt
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a 9-by-13-inch pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Lightly spray with cooking spray.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar and powdered sugar. Add vanilla and beat until combined. Mix in the flour and combine until it forms a soft dough.
3. Press half of the dough in the bottom of a 9-by13-inch dish and place the other half of the dough in the refrigerator. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes.
4. Remove the pan from the oven and melt the caramels, heavy cream and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in the microwave for one minute. Stir together until smooth. Pour evenly over the hot crust. Lightly sprinkle the coarse sea salt over the crust. Just lightly sprinkle and you don’t have to use all of the salt called for in the recipe depending on how salty you want it.
5. Take the remaining dough out of the refrigerator and crumble over the top of the caramel. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until filling is bubbly and the top is firm. Let them cool completely before cutting. — Recipe and cookie bars submitted by Geni Thurin of Dayton. This recipe was discovered on Pinterest.