Dulce De Leche Bars

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Servings: 12
Yield: 12 servings

Description

A creamy center fills a buttery shortbread-like crust that is covered with caramel and a pecan-coconut topping in this dulce de leche bars recipe.

Ingredients

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (12 1/2 fl oz) can dulce de leche
1 cup shredded coconut
3/4 cup pecans, toasted and chopped

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Thoroughly grease an 8x8-inch baking pan.
2 Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until combined and creamy. Add egg and vanilla extract; beat until incorporated. Scrape down sides of the bowl; beat again. Combine flour and salt; stir into butter mixture until a dough ball forms.
3 Press ⅔ dough into bottom of the prepared baking pan.
4 Bake in the preheated oven until set and light brown, about 20 minutes; keep oven on.
5 Pour dulce de leche over crust, trying to keep edges mostly bare.
6 Add coconut and pecans to remaining ⅓ dough; stir until incorporated. Crumble mixture over dulce de leche, pressing lightly over top.
7 Bake until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Cool completely before cutting into bars.