Grandma’s Caramel Slice Is the Forgotten Dessert Recipe You Must Try

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1.9K
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2025-10-31
Grandma’s Caramel Slice Is the Forgotten Dessert Recipe You Must Try
Prep Time:
25 mins
Cook Time:
12 mins
Bake Time:
18 mins
Chill Time:
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 25 mins
Servings:
32
Yield:
32 bars

Caramel slice is a nostalgic dessert that's popular in Australia. Each bite is filled with chocolate, caramel, and coconut shortbread. Some say it's called "caramel slice" because the caramel completely sets, allowing for perfect slices. Finish the caramel bars with a generous sprinkle of flaky sea salt. This dessert is very similar to our fan-favorite Millionaire Shortbread. Here's how to make caramel slice, including how to freeze the bars for up to three months.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cup salted butter (1 cup softened), divided

  • 1 cup packed brown sugar, divided

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar

  • 1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut

  • 1 egg yolk

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla, divided

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 2 cups all purpose flour

  • 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

  • 1 (12 ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips

  • Flaky sea salt

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with parchment paper, extending paper over edges.

  2. In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat 1 cup softened butter on medium speed until creamy, about 30 seconds. Add 1/3 cup of the brown sugar and the granulated sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Beat in coconut, egg yolk, 1 teaspoon of the vanilla, and salt until combined. Gradually mix in flour on low speed just until combined and mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into bottom of prepared baking pan.

  3. Bake until edges are golden and center is set, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack.

  4. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan combine the remaining 1/2 cup butter and remaining 2/3 cup brown sugar. Cook over medium-high heat until butter is melted, stirring constantly, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add in sweetened condensed milk. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low and simmer until golden, stirring frequently, about 12 to 14 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla. Spread caramel mixture evenly over crust. Cover and chill until set, about 30 to 40 minutes.

  5. In a small saucepan heat heavy cream over medium heat until just simmering, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Add chocolate chips and let stand 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Evenly spread chocolate layer over caramel layer. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Cover and chill until set, about 1 hour.

  6. Using edges of parchment paper, lift out shortbread. Cut into bars.

How to Store Caramel Slice

Place caramel slice bars in a single layer in an airtight container; cover. Store in the refrigerator up to 1 week or freeze up to 3 months.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

261 Calories
15g Fat
30g Carbs
3g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 32
Calories 260.5
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 15.4g 20%
Saturated Fat 9.6g 48%
Cholesterol 44.3mg 15%
Sodium 151.1mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 29.9g 11%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 22.6g
Protein 3.1g 6%
Vitamin D 0.2mcg 1%
Vitamin C 0.5mg 1%
Calcium 63.6mg 5%
Iron 0.8mg 5%
Potassium 130.8mg 3%
Fatty acids, total trans 0.4g
Vitamin D 5.8IU
Alanine 0.1g
Arginine 0.1g
Ash 0.9g
Aspartic acid 0.2g
Caffeine 6.6mg
Carotene, alpha 0.2mcg
Choline, total 30mg
Copper, Cu 0.1mg
Cystine 0g
Energy 1089.8kJ
Fluoride, F 0.4mcg
Folate, total 19.6mcg
Glutamic acid 0.7g
Glycine 0.1g
Histidine 0.1g
Isoleucine 0.2g
Leucine 0.3g
Lysine 0.2g
Methionine 0.1g
Magnesium, Mg 20.2mg
Manganese, Mn 0.2mg
Niacin 0.6mg
Phosphorus, P 76.2mg
Pantothenic acid 0.3mg
Phenylalanine 0.2g
Phytosterols 0mg
Proline 0.3g
Retinol 103.1mcg
Selenium, Se 6.9mcg
Serine 0.2g
Starch 0g
Theobromine 51.7mg
Threonine 0.1g
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 0.4mg
Tryptophan 0g
Tyrosine 0.1g
Valine 0.2g
Vitamin A, IU 381.3IU
Vitamin A, RAE 105mcg
Vitamin B-12 0.1mcg
Vitamin B-6 0mg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 1.6mcg
Water 11.3g
Zinc, Zn 0.4mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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