If you happened to see my salted caramel-pecan bark last week, these bars will look familiar – they’re simply a spin-off of that recipe. I swapped the chocolate layer for a brown butter shortbread crust, kept the brown sugar caramel layer (no need to touch perfection!), and used roasted cashews plus sea salt as the topping.
The verdict? These salted caramel-cashew bars are incredibly indulgent, and if you like a little salt with your sweets, you’ll find these bites quite enticing. There’s only one way to choose a favorite: make both recipes and plan a taste-off!
Salted Caramel-Cashew Bars
Crust
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup flour
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/8 tsp salt
Brown Sugar Caramel
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cubed
1/2 cup light brown sugar
pinch of sea salt
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup cashews
sea salt
Cook butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly until it foams, turns clear, and then turns a deep brown, about 6 minutes. Pour browned butter into a glass bowl and chill in the freezer until solid, about 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°F and line an 8-inch baking dish with foil. Whisk together flour, powdered sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Dice solidified brown butter into 1/2-inch pieces; sprinkle over flour mixture and use a pastry cutter to cut in evenly until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add dough to prepared baking dish; use a piece of parchment to press dough into an even layer. Bake for 23 minutes, until crust is lightly golden. Cool on wire rack.
Place butter and brown sugar in a heavy saucepan. Melt over medium heat, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula, until boiling. Once mixture boils, reduce temperature to medium-low and let bubble for 3 more minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; carefully add salt and vanilla (mixture will bubble up). Quickly pour caramel over shortbread layer and spread with an offset spatula. Top with cashews, pressingly gently to adhere; sprinkle with sea salt. Chill in the refrigerator until completely set, about 1 hour.
Carefully lift foil and place bars on a cutting board; use a sharp knife to cut into squares. Store leftover squares in an airtight container at room temperature.
Yield – 16 squares (serving size: 1 square)
Calories – 185
Carbs – 16
Did you make these just for me? :) Seriously, I can’t think of anything better than brown butter shortbread, caramel and cashews. Brilliant!
Very pretty Laura, love the combination of flavors in your delightful cookie bars ;-)
You are responsible for more drool on my computer than I care to think about Laura! These look amazing! I love everything about this special treat!
I think I’ve died…. these are just too good to be true!
holy cow, girl, these look AMAZING.
I think a taste-off is definitely in order. SO good!
i love the way the bars look ….reminds me of an Indian traditional sweet called kaju cutley
Who can resist the irresistible combination of salty & sweet!? ;)
I Love cashews!!
Nice recipe Laura, I like the swap out with a little crunchy cookie bottom!
salty sweet. My favorite combination. These sound amazing!
You are killing me! Smile. Salted Caramel Cashew Bars are right in my wheel house – I seriously would not be able to stop at one or two. These are a MUST make! :)
Don’t you love it when you can adapt a recipe like that and end up with something like this? Great fun, it is.
These are so pretty! I think I’d have to add chocolate chunks instead of cashews. You know, to de-healthify them… (I don’t like cashews!) ;)
I love caramels and cashews, these sound so good!! Not sure which version I like better!
These look absolutely wonderful. Yum!
I think I said this last week about the bark too – this is dangerous for me! I would eat way too much. I love everything about this Laura!
Good lord, woman, these look fantastic!! LOVE cashews, what a fabulous idea!
Oh this look AMAZING!!!!! One my favorite combinations….so good! when can you ship me some LOL! JK!
Have a lovely week ahead! xo
I love the spin-off with cashews!! My fiance LOVES cashews so these would be gone in no time!
Cashews have something special about them – so sweetly rich. I think they pair perfectly with salted caramel. And they look beautiful.
Wow, what an amazing spin-off! These look incredible!
Decadent. And the best part is that I have cashews in my pantry right now!
These are perfect! I want to eat ALL OF THEM.
My hubby and I adore cashews….maybe a little too much! Soooooo, I think this needs to be on my to-do list for sure:-) They look fabulous! Hugs, Terra
An interesting recipe with the salty addition of the cashews. Anything with caramel is great.
All my favorite things, in one bar — the more cashews the better!! This looks divine, Laura.
This sounds amazing! What a fabulous combo of flavors. I can’t wait to try your recipe!
You are absolutely right the only way for me to know which ones I want more is to try both. If I send you my address could you hook me up? Pretty please.
-Gina-
I love the looks of these! Right before Xmas I made some peanut-caramel bars that in my mind were inspired by salted caramel cashew bars. I was traveling and didnt have access to cashews (barely could find peanuts!) but your bars remind me to revisit my idea. They’re just so lovely, Laura!
Mmmmmm….I’m a sucker for any and all things caramel…and pairing it with cashews is something I haven’t tried. Looks amazing, Laura!
These seriously look soo delish! Seriously anything with salted caramel knocks my socks off.
Oh my gosh! SO good! I love that you added cashews… I bet the texture of the bars is just amazing. Beautiful!!
Cashews are a favorite at my house. Topping a salty, caramel, shortbread cookie with them is inspired! A taste off would would be traumatic, they would all disappear!
oh my goodness! I love these! Must try soon!! yum!
I. Want. Wishing I was your neighbor because I know you can’t be devouring all the scrumptious goodies you make by yourself!
Love that you turned the bark into these bars! Now when I make the bark, I’ll just have to make a batch of these bars, too!
Oh my goodness, cashews and salted caramel? Together? I feel as though you made this just for me! ;)
Holy amazing, Laura!!! Salted caramel and cashews sitting upon a sweet crust…I can’t think of anything better! Love all photos, can’t decide which one I want to pin!
Oh, Laura…where do I begin? I’m a sucker for any thing caramel and these bars make me swoon:)
I grew up eating cashews because they have this silky, creamy, milky taste that I like. Cashews are my kids fave nuts, too! And to bake them with salted caramel? This is the kind of treat I grew up with! In the Philippines, we make cashew tarts with caramel…so yummy! I bet yours taste just as good, if not better!
These are pretty much perfection to me!!
These are pretty much perfection to me!
I’m up for anything with salted caramel. They look beautiful as do your photos, Laura! :)
Oh my. I love caramel & salt. I love cashews. I love brown sugar. This is a MUST MAKE. Thanks!
I love the sweet-salty combination in these bars! They look so mouthwatering and perfect for a sweet little something after dinner!
This is perfect! My hubby adores shortbread and loves cashews and I like all 3 (including the caramel), yum!
I like salted caramels so much and in a form of bars it must be amazing. You made a small change and a totally new taste was created :)
These look great Laura! I love cashews and any excuse to eat them:)
Yes to more salted caramel!
Perfection is spelled in butter and salted caramel. Oh my!
Mmmm, these sound so good!
Oh wow.. these look crazy good! I love the caramel cashew combo. Simply can’t get enough of it. So glad to have found you via TS! I’ll be back for sure!
Yum!!! These look awesome! Love salty sweet.
This would solve the salty and sweet cravings all at once!
These are perfection Laura! What are you using to calculate nutritional value for your recipes? I am always looking for a good source for that!
Next to almonds and pistachios, cashews round out my top three favorite nuts. These bars are such a beautiful way to showcase them!
Who will not drool by looking at these bars! Seriously Laura, these are dangerously delicious bars. Did you finish them all already? Otherwise I keep looking at my mail box. :D
Yum Laura! This surely touches the right spot. Looks so delicious!
These look luscious, Laura! I bet my coworkers would love these bars. :)
Oh I just love these! :)