I like chocolate – in moderation. I’ve sort of chocolate-d myself out lately, so I needed a break from it. I decided to focus on caramel this week instead.
These salted caramel cashew bars were inspired by an ice cream sundae.
I found myself ordering the sundae, eating the caramel and cashews, and then just picking at the ice cream. So, I decided to try to recreate the dessert minus the ice cream.
Now, it may sound like these bars would be too salty (salted butter, salted cashews, pinch of salt on top), but they need the salt to balance out all of the sugar in these guys.
Otherwise, the bars would taste really sweet and sort of flatly boring.
The salt keeps interesting. Mini science digression – salt allows you to more fully taste sugar, so it tastes better with a bit of salt.
The day that we talked about baking and taste in chemistry was the day that chemistry finally started to be interesting for me.
While we’re talking about salt, please don’t use regular table salt on top of these bars.
It has smaller grains and is saltier than a finishing salt like fleur de sel, so they may end up too salty if you use iodized (table) salt.
More salted caramel recipes!
Salted Caramel Cashew Bars
Ingredients
Salted Caramel Sauce
- 1 cup salted butter
- 1 cup dark brown sugar packed
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Shortbread Crust
- 1/2 cup . salted butter softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
Everything Else
- 2 cups unsalted cashews
- Pinch of fleur de sel optional
Instructions
- To make the caramel, add butter, brown sugar, and heavy cream to a heavy saucepan.
- Whisking regularly, bring to a boil.
- Boil for 5 minutes, whisking regularly.
- Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla extract.
- Let sauce cool while you make the crust.
- Preheat oven to 300 F. Line an 8x8-inch pan with parchment paper. Lightly grease the parchment paper.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together butter, sugar, salt, and vanilla until well-combined.
- Stir in flour until just incorporated.
- Press crust evenly into prepared pan.*
- Prick the crust with a fork all over the base.
- Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until edges are golden brown and middle is light golden brown.
- Remove crust from oven, and let cool in the pan to room temperature.
- Sprinkle cashews over crust.
- Pour 2 cups caramel evenly over cashews and crust, and sprinkle with fleur de sel, if using.
- Place bars in fridge, uncovered, and chill until set.
- Cover, and chill remaining caramel.
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
Share it with me on Instagram @i_heart_eating and follow on Youtube @katedean and Pinterest @katedean for more!
Reader Interactions
Love this recipe?
Share your thoughts below and let’s chat! Make sure to connect with me on your favorite social platform below and show me what you made!
Comments & Reviews
Medeja says
It looks so sinfully good!
kateheartseating says
Thanks!! =)
Miz Helen says
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Enjoy your new Red Plate and have a great weekend.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
kateheartseating says
Thank you so much! That’s wonderful!! =)
Marlys @Thisand That says
These look awesome. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday and I hope you join us again this coming week. Pinning these to my recipes that caught my attention board.
kateheartseating says
Thanks!! And thanks for pinning and for hosting! =)
Charlene@A Pinch of Joy says
You are featured this week on Busy Monday at A Pinch of Joy! I hope you will stop by and grab a Featured Button from the Button Box on the sidebar. Pinned. Can’t wait to see what else you’ve been working on!
kateheartseating says
Awesome!! Thank you so much!!! =)
Diana Rambles says
They look amazingly delicious!
kateheartseating says
Thanks! And thanks for hosting!! =)
Karyn - Pint Sized Baker says
Looks wonderful!
kateheartseating says
Thanks!! And thanks for pinning and for hosting! =)
Karly Campbell says
I’m not sure I’ve ever been chocolated out, but I could totally go for one of these bars! ;)
Thanks for linking up to What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
kateheartseating says
Yeah…I tend to go a little crazy with the sweets and overdo it =). Thanks for hosting and for stopping by!
Pieced Pastimes says
These sound and look delicious. Would love to have you link up to my ‘Saturday Sparks’ party if you get a chance.
Thanks for sharing,
Suzanne
Pieced Pastimes
kateheartseating says
Thanks!! I’m always up for a new link party!! Thanks for the invite! =)
Miz Helen says
Hi Kate,
I can’t wait to have this awesome Caramel Cashew Bar, I can almost taste it already. Hope you are having a great weekend and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
kateheartseating says
Thanks so much, Miz Helen! I hope you have a great weekend, too!! =)
Liz @ Here's to Handy Andy says
Yum! Thanks so much for sharing! I’ve featuring this today on my blog.
kateheartseating says
Thanks so much for the feature! That’s awesome!! =)
april says
Love love love your blog! I love salty and sweet treat, so Im def going to try this recipe….
kateheartseating says
Thank you so much!! You and I are kindred dessert spirits – I love salty sweet treats, too!! I’d love to link up at your party! Thanks!! =)
Shauna {The Best Blog Recipes} says
Yum, these look so delicious. Thanks for sharing at my weekend link party The Weekend re-Treat!
Hope you have a fantastic rest of the weekend!
kateheartseating says
Thanks!! Hope you have a great week, too!! =)
Katie B. of HousewifeHowTos.com says
Salty and sweet, crunchy and chewy? This is the PERFECT flavor combination! I’m going to have to make this very soon. :)
kateheartseating says
I hope you enjoy them! The bars are kinda like a giant candy bar. I haven’t linked up, but I would love to come and join your party on Tues! Thanks for the invite and for stopping by!! =)
Nici ~ Posed Perfection says
These look amazing! I love caramel and cashews! Thanks for sharing! PInning! Have a great weekend.
Nici
kateheartseating says
Thanks!! I hope you enjoy these bars! =)
Amber says
These sound amazing, to bad hubby is on a diet and I’m supporting him…but I could bring them into work ;) Found you on the Whats Shaken Linky
kateheartseating says
Good for you for supporting him! These are definitely not diet food (unless you just ate one bite)! Thanks for stopping by! =)
Hilary says
These look spectacular! I want to make some right now even though it is almost 11 at night!
kateheartseating says
Thanks!! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve started to make something long after I should’ve gone to bed! =)
jtulip says
Seriously, those look like the best thing ever! Caramel and cashews are the best combinations. Beautiful, I had to pin! Thanks for sharing, hope to see you at True Aim!
kateheartseating says
Thanks so much!! And thanks for pinning! =)
I Gotta Try That says
Wow these look and sound amazing. I need to make these for sure! Pinning!
Hugs,
Marcie
kateheartseating says
Thanks!! I hope you enjoy them!! =)
lisa says
These look soooooo good – I will have to give them a try but use a gluten free flour. The pictures are making very hungry! Hope you can stop by the enchanted oven for a visit.
xo,
Lisa
kateheartseating says
Thanks! I hope they work out using gluten-free flour!!! =)
madge | the vegetarian casserole queen says
There just aren’t enough desserts out there featuring cashews! Well done. They sound like sweet and salty heaven!
kateheartseating says
Thanks!! I totally agree – cashews just don’t get the attention they deserve!