Description
Delight in these Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars featuring a buttery crust, tender cinnamon-spiced apple filling, crumbly oat streusel, and a generous drizzle of luscious salted caramel. Perfect for a comforting dessert or an indulgent snack, these bars combine classic fall flavors into an easy-to-make treat that can be served warm or chilled.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
Apple Filling
- 2 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced (1/4 inch thick)
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Streusel Topping
- 1/2 cup (43g) old-fashioned whole rolled oats
- 1/3 cup (70g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup (31g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp; 56g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
Topping
- homemade salted caramel or store-bought caramel sauce, for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat the oven to 300°F (149°C). Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang on all sides for easy removal. Set aside.
- Make the crust: In a medium bowl, stir together the melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Add the flour and mix until just combined to form the crust dough. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes until set but not browned. Remove from oven.
- Prepare the apple filling: In a large bowl, toss the peeled, thinly sliced apples with flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until all slices are evenly coated. Set aside.
- Make the streusel: In a medium bowl, whisk oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour together. Cut in the cold cubed butter using a pastry blender, two forks, or your fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
- Assemble and bake: Increase oven temperature to 350°F (177°C). Evenly layer the apple filling over the warm crust, pressing down gently to fit as many slices as possible. Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the apples. Bake for 30–35 minutes or until streusel is golden brown and apples are tender.
- Cool and chill: Remove from the oven and allow to cool at room temperature for at least 20 minutes. Then refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight to set.
- Cut and serve: Use parchment paper overhang to lift the bars from the pan. Cut into 16 smaller bars or 12 larger bars, as preferred. Drizzle each bar generously with salted caramel sauce before serving. Bars can be enjoyed warm, at room temperature, or chilled.
Notes
- Use sharp, firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for best texture and balance of tartness and sweetness.
- For a homemade caramel sauce, gently melt sugar and stir in butter and cream, then add a pinch of sea salt.
- Press apple slices tightly to fit all filling in the pan; they will cook down and compact as they bake.
- Bars can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat individual bars in the microwave for 10-15 seconds if enjoying warm.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (if cut into 16 bars)
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: salted caramel, apple pie bars, fall dessert, apple streusel bars, caramel apple dessert, easy apple bars
