Gooey Butterfinger Caramel Candy Bars Recipe

Gooey Butterfinger Caramel Candy Bars Recipe with Crunchy Chocolate Layers

Sweet tooth adventurers, these homemade butterfinger caramel candy bars will stop you in your tracks.

Layers of decadent caramel and crumbled butterfinger create a dessert that’s impossible to resist.

Crisp, crunchy, and outrageously indulgent, this recipe balances sweet and salty notes perfectly.

Each bite delivers a nostalgic crunch that transports you back to childhood candy memories.

The combination of smooth caramel and classic butterfinger creates a treat that’s both familiar and extraordinary.

No bakery can match the rich, complex flavors of these handcrafted bars.

Prepare to become the dessert hero among your friends with this irresistible confection.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Calories: 322 kcal

Servings: 13

What Goes Into Butterfinger Caramel Candy Bars

For Crust Base:
  • Graham Cracker Crumbs: Creates a sturdy, crispy foundation that adds delightful texture and classic cookie taste, opt for fresh and finely ground crumbs.
  • Unsalted Butter: Binds the crust together and provides rich, smooth flavor, choose high-quality butter for best results.
  • Granulated Sugar: Adds subtle sweetness and helps caramelize the crust, ensuring a golden-brown color.
For Caramel Layer:
  • Caramel Bits: Delivers intense caramel flavor, look for soft, easy-melting varieties that create smooth consistency.
  • Heavy Cream: Helps create silky, spreadable caramel texture, select fresh cream with high fat content.
  • Butterfinger Candy Bars: Introduces crunchy, peanut buttery element, choose fresh bars with crisp texture.
For Chocolate Topping:
  • Chocolate Chips: Provides rich, glossy chocolate layer, select high-quality chocolate for best melting and flavor.
  • Coconut Oil: Helps create smooth, glossy chocolate coating, ensures easy spreading and elegant finish.

Kitchen Tools For Butterfinger Caramel Candy Bars

  • 8×8-inch baking dish: Essential for creating the perfect bar size.
  • Parchment paper: Crucial for easy removal and clean cutting of bars.
  • Mixing bowl: Needed for combining crust ingredients and preparing layers.
  • Microwave-safe bowls: Two required for melting caramel and chocolate.
  • Spatula: Perfect for spreading caramel and chocolate layers evenly.
  • Measuring cups and spoons: Necessary for accurate ingredient measurements.
  • Sharp knife: Used for cutting the final candy bars into clean squares.
  • Oven: Needed to bake the graham cracker crust.

Steps To Make Butterfinger Caramel Candy Bars

  • Create A Tasty Base

Grab your baking dish and line it with parchment paper. Mix graham cracker crumbs with melted butter and a touch of sweetness. Press the mixture firmly into the pan, creating a delicious foundation. Pop it in the oven until golden and let it cool completely.

  • Drizzle Caramel Magic

Warm caramel bits with cream until they transform into a silky smooth river. Pour this liquid gold over your cooled crust. Sprinkle crushed Butterfinger pieces across the caramel landscape. Chill in the refrigerator to set the delectable layer.

  • Chocolate Cascade

Melt chocolate with a hint of coconut oil until glossy and smooth. Gently pour the chocolate over the caramel, creating a luxurious blanket. Decorate the top with remaining Butterfinger crumbles for extra crunch and visual appeal.

  • Chill And Slice

Refrigerate your creation for 1-2 hours until perfectly set. Use parchment paper handles to lift the entire treat from the pan. Slice into tempting squares and indulge in your homemade candy bar masterpiece.

Ideas To Change Up Butterfinger Caramel Candy Bars

  • Smart Substitution Tricks: Replace graham crackers with gluten-free cookies for a celiac-friendly version, ensuring everyone can enjoy these delectable bars.
  • Candy Bar Customization: Swap Butterfinger for other chopped candy bars like Snickers or Reese's to create unique flavor combinations that keep things exciting.
  • Temperature Control Technique: Allow bars to sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before cutting to ensure clean, precise slices without cracking the chocolate layer.
  • Storage Savvy Solution: Store these bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking and maintain their gorgeous layered appearance.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the entire dessert up to 3 days in advance, covering tightly with plastic wrap, which makes them perfect for planning ahead and reducing day-of preparation stress.

Serve Butterfinger Caramel Candy Bars Sweet And Crunchy

  • Sweet Dessert Pairing: Complement these rich Butterfinger Caramel Candy Bars with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a cold glass of milk to balance the sweetness and enhance the chocolate and caramel flavors.
  • Party Presentation Trick: Arrange the cut bars on a decorative platter with extra Butterfinger pieces scattered around, creating an eye-catching dessert display perfect for gatherings or potlucks.
  • Gifting Gourmet Option: Wrap individual bars in wax paper or cellophane with a ribbon, making them a delightful homemade gift for friends, family, or holiday treat exchanges. Store in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
  • Textural Topping Variation: Sprinkle crushed sea salt or chopped nuts over the final chocolate layer to add a crunchy contrast and elevate the complex flavor profile of these decadent candy bars.

Storage Help For Butterfinger Caramel Candy Bars

  • Quick Cooling Strategy: Refrigerate bars on a flat surface in the kitchen, ensuring even temperature distribution and preventing potential melting or uneven setting.
  • Flexible Storage Solutions: Keep candy bars in an airtight container between layers of parchment paper, maintaining their crisp texture and preventing stickiness for up to 5 days.
  • Temperature-Conscious Handling: Store at cool room temperature or in refrigerator, avoiding direct sunlight or warm areas that might cause chocolate to soften or caramel to run.
  • Smart Freezing Technique: Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 weeks, thawing at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before enjoying for best taste and texture.
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Gooey Butterfinger Caramel Candy Bars Recipe

Gooey Butterfinger Caramel Candy Bars Recipe


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4.5 from 19 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Homemade Butterfinger caramel candy bars deliver a nostalgic crunch of peanut butter and sweet caramel. Crisp layers of graham crackers and chocolate create a delightful treat you’ll crave again and again.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (255 grams) semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
  • 1 ½ cups (255 grams) crushed butterfinger candy bars (about 6 mini bars or 3 regular-sized bars)
  • 2 tbsps (30 milliliters) heavy cream
  • 1 cup (170 grams) caramel bits or soft caramels, unwrapped
  • 2 cups (473 milliliters) graham cracker crumbs
  • ½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, melted
  • ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp (15 milliliters) coconut oil or vegetable oil (for a shiny topping)

Instructions

  1. Crust Preparation: Pulverize graham crackers and blend with melted butter and sugar until uniformly combined. Press the mixture firmly into a parchment-lined baking dish, creating a compact, golden foundation for the dessert.
  2. Caramel Layer: Melt caramel bits with heavy cream in short microwave bursts, stirring until achieving a smooth, glossy consistency. Generously drizzle the molten caramel across the crust, then liberally scatter crushed Butterfinger pieces for a delightful textural contrast.
  3. Chocolate Finishing: Gently melt chocolate chips with coconut oil, whisking until achieving a luxurious, flowing consistency. Pour the chocolate evenly over the caramel and Butterfinger layer, ensuring complete coverage and allowing it to settle naturally.
  4. Final Embellishment: Sprinkle remaining Butterfinger fragments across the chocolate surface, creating an artistic pattern of color and crunch. Refrigerate the assembled dessert, permitting the layers to solidify and integrate their complex flavors.
  5. Serving Technique: Once completely chilled, lift the dessert from the pan using parchment paper handles. Slice into precise portions, revealing the intricate, multi-layered composition of graham, caramel, chocolate, and crunchy Butterfinger elements.

Notes

  • Prepare Crumb Base Evenly: Use a flat-bottomed measuring cup or glass to press graham cracker mixture firmly and uniformly, preventing crumbly or uneven layers.
  • Manage Caramel Consistency: Microwave caramel in 15-second intervals, stirring between each session to prevent burning and achieve smooth, pourable texture without scorching.
  • Control Chocolate Melting: Use double boiler method or low microwave heat to melt chocolate chips, preventing seizing and ensuring glossy, perfect coating that spreads smoothly.
  • Optimize Chilling Process: Allow dessert to set completely in refrigerator for at least 2 hours, ensuring layers bond and bars slice cleanly without crumbling or falling apart.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 322
  • Sugar: 23 g
  • Sodium: 60 mg
  • Fat: 18 g
  • Saturated Fat: 10 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 36 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
Olivia Bennett

Olivia Bennett

Co-Founder & Content Creator

Expertise

Nutritional Analysis​, Dietary Accommodations​, Food Writing and Blogging​,

Education

University of Texas at Austin

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nutrition
  • Focus: Emphasis on dietary planning, food science, and the relationship between nutrition and health.​

Institute of Culinary Education, New York, NY

  • Program: Plant-Based Culinary Arts Certificate
  • Focus: Specialized training in vegetarian and vegan cooking techniques, emphasizing whole foods and sustainability.​

Olivia Bennett is Cooking Crusade’s go-to expert for nutritious, feel-good food. Based in Austin, she blends her degree in Nutrition from the University of Texas with plant-based culinary training from the Institute of Culinary Education.

Olivia’s recipes are all about balance: vibrant, wholesome, and easy-to-love dishes that work for all kinds of eaters. Her mission is simple: to make healthy eating approachable and genuinely tasty, with tips that support your lifestyle, not complicate it.

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