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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Salty Honey and Browned Butter Bars

Makes 20 to 24 bars

1 hour 20 minutes 25 minutes active, plus cooling

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Cheryl Day — cookbook author, pastry chef and co-owner of Back in the Day Bakery in Savannah, Georgia — knows a thing or two about Southern baking. So it’s no surprise that these sweet and salty bars, adapted from her book, “Cheryl Day’s Treasury of Southern Baking,” are reminiscent of rich, custardy chess pie. But Day brings a new twist to the Southern classic by using browned butter for its notes of toasted nuts and giving the treats a nuanced sweetness with a combination of white sugar, Lyle’s Golden Syrup and floral honey. She also balances the sugariness and heightens the flavors with a good dose of salt. Lyle’s Golden Syrup is a cane syrup with a light caramel flavor that’s popular in the U.K. It’s sold in most well-stocked grocery stores here in the U.S., but if it’s not available, you can mimic its flavor by combining 3 tablespoons light corn syrup and 2½ tablespoons pure maple syrup. Refrigerate leftover bars in an airtight container for up to three days; bring to room temperature before serving.

Makes

20 to 24 bars

Tip

Don’t skip the step of poking holes in and refrigerating the crust before baking. The holes allow steam to escape, thereby minimizing the amount the baked good puffs in the oven. Chilling the crust before baking will help prevent the side walls from slumping in the oven. Also, don’t use a nonstick skillet to brown the butter for the filling. A pan with a light-colored surface will allow you to better see the color of the milk solids and fat so you can monitor their progress. If you don’t own a conventional (i.e., not nonstick) skillet, use a conventional saucepan instead.

1 hour 20 minutes

25 minutes active, plus cooling

For the crust:

  • 390

    grams (3 cups) all-purpose flour

Directions

Reviews
BRANDON H.
September 4, 2026
Interesting
I don't think I've ever eaten anything quite like this; the flavor is very honey-forward and kind of unusual (at least it was for me, but maybe I used an especially potent honey?), definitely not too sweet, which I was worried it would be. The crust in particular is awesome. Curious to try this same crust with another filling, too. I'd make this again!
Stephen H.
April 1, 2025
Unique
I love this crust. I use for all kinds of sweet pies and bars. The filling here is unique and rich but balanced.
Philip L.
January 22, 2024
Worth the price of subscription
This recipe was our first to attempt here at milk street and it didn’t disappoint! We went to Savannah recently but were there on a day that the shop this recipe originates was closed. When we saw this being made on an episode of milk street we signed up and made them immediately! Best dessert we’ve had in a long time and further validates our subscription. Looking forward to the next recipe already.
KAREN L.
October 24, 2024
Yum
These are quite lovely. I was amazed with all of the sugars in there that they would be too sweet, but they were not, at all! I for got the salt on the top at first, but now just sprinkle some on as we eat them, and hope to not get it all over the floor! My only change would be to up the filling by 1/4 next time…..I like my goo!
Shannon P.
March 5, 2024
A little too salty
I like salty sweet - but everyone found these a little too far on the salty end. I'd probably use unsalted butter in the crust and filling, given the added salt, and reduce the flaky salt by half.

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