Dulce de Leche Shortbread Bars with Pumpkin Spice Drizzle
Rich shortbread bars layered with creamy dulce de leche and topped with crumbly dough pieces, finished with a sweet pumpkin spice candy drizzle. Perfect for fall gatherings or holiday dessert tables, these bars combine buttery shortbread with caramel-like dulce de leche for an indulgent treat that balances sweetness with warm spice notes.
Ingredients
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 325 degrees
- 2
Spray 8x8 glass baking dish with cooking spray and set aside
- 3
Combine sugars, butter and vanilla in mixer and beat until combined
- 4
Stir in egg
- 5
Add flour and beat until well combined
- 6
Press 3/4 of the dough into prepared baking dish
- 7
Place remaining dough in refrigerator until ready to use
- 8
Bake 20 minutes, remove and allow to cool about 15 minutes
- 9
Spread dulce de leche over the top in thin layer
- 10
Drop remaining dough in clumps on top of the dulce de leche without spreading or pressing down
- 11
Return to oven and bake 25-30 minutes
- 12
Remove from oven and place on wire rack in pan
- 13
Melt candy melts in small bowl for approximately 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds
- 14
Dip fork in melted chocolate and drizzle over the shortbread bars
- 15
Allow to cool completely before serving
Tips
Refrigerate the reserved dough to make it easier to drop in clumps without melting into the dulce de leche layer
Cool bars completely before cutting to prevent the layers from sliding apart
Use a thin layer of dulce de leche to prevent overly sweet bars
Good to Know
Store covered at room temperature for up to 5 days
Can be made 2 days ahead, store covered
Serve at room temperature, cut into squares
Common Mistakes
Press dough firmly into pan to avoid crumbly base
Don't spread top dough layer to maintain rustic texture
Cool completely before cutting to avoid messy slices
Substitutions
works well
good substitute
FAQ
Can I use store-bought dulce de leche?
Yes, jarred dulce de leche works perfectly and saves time. Just warm it slightly if too thick to spread easily.
What if I don't have pumpkin spice candy melts?
Use white chocolate chips mixed with a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg, or substitute with regular chocolate chips.
How long do these bars keep?
Store covered at room temperature for up to 5 days, or refrigerate for up to a week for firmer texture.