If you love desserts that strike the perfect harmony between sweet, salty, creamy, and crunchy, this Ultimate Salt River Bars Treat will quickly become a favorite. These layered bars feature buttery Club crackers, velvety caramel, smooth peanut-butterscotch topping, and a generous sprinkle of flaky sea salt. They look gourmet but are surprisingly easy to make with simple pantry ingredients. Whether you’re prepping for a potluck, holiday party, bake sale, or weekend dessert craving, this recipe delivers big flavor with minimal effort.
Why You’ll Love This Salt River Bars Treat
Salt River Bars are the ideal combination of textures: crisp crackers, soft caramel, silky chocolate, and a delicate finish of sea salt that amplifies all the flavors. Each bite offers sweetness without being overwhelming, thanks to the savory cracker layers and balanced richness.
What makes these bars even more appealing is how straightforward they are to prepare. No complicated baking techniques—just layering, simmering, melting, and chilling. They slice beautifully, store well, and travel even better, making them perfect for sharing.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 90 Club crackers
- 225 g salted butter
- 400 g packed light brown sugar
- 100 g graham cracker crumbs
- 180 ml heavy cream
- 255 g milk chocolate chips
- 85 g butterscotch chips
- 130 g creamy peanut butter
- Maldon sea salt, for finishing
These ingredients come together to form three irresistible layers: buttery crackers, chewy caramel, and a smooth chocolate-peanut butter topping.
How to Make Salt River Bars (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Prepare the Baking Dish
Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Arrange a single layer of Club crackers across the bottom, covering the entire surface.
Step 2: Make the Caramel Layer
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt salted butter and light brown sugar together. Once melted, stir in the graham cracker crumbs and heavy cream.
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for 6–7 minutes, stirring often, until thickened and glossy.
Step 3: Layer the Caramel and Crackers
Pour the hot caramel mixture evenly over the bottom layer of crackers.
Add another layer of Club crackers on top, gently pressing them into the warm caramel.
Step 4: Make the Chocolate Topping
In a heatproof bowl, melt the milk chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and creamy peanut butter together. You can melt them in the microwave (20–30 second intervals) or using a double boiler.
Stir until smooth and pour this mixture over the cracker layers.
Step 5: Finish and Chill
Sprinkle generously with Maldon sea salt for that signature sweet-salty finish.
Refrigerate the bars for at least 2 hours, or until completely firm.
Once set, lift out using the parchment and slice into squares or bars.
Tips & Variations
- Use dark chocolate if you prefer a deeper, less sweet flavor.
- Swap peanut butter for almond or sunflower seed butter for allergy-friendly options.
- Add crunch: Stir chopped nuts into the chocolate layer for extra texture.
- Gluten-free option: Use gluten-free buttery crackers and gluten-free graham crumbs.
- Make ahead: These bars stay perfectly fresh for up to 5 days when refrigerated.
Serving Ideas & Storage
Serve Salt River Bars chilled for clean, sharp cuts—or let them soften slightly at room temperature for an extra gooey bite. They pair beautifully with coffee, tea, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
To store, place bars in an airtight container with parchment between layers. Refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge before serving.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
(Estimated for one bar)
| Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat | Fiber | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 260 | 3g | 28g | 15g | 1g | 180mg |
Final Thoughts
This Ultimate Salt River Bars Treat is the definition of irresistible. With its rich caramel center, buttery cracker crunch, and silky chocolate-peanut butter finish, it delivers bakery-level indulgence with simple steps anyone can master. Make a batch, slice it up, and watch it disappear—these bars never last long!