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Salted Caramel Apple Bars for Fall

Salted Caramel Apple Bars

The Crispy Chef
Everything you love about apple pie—flaky crust, cinnamon-spiced apples, gooey caramel—in an easier, portable bar format. Topped with an oat crumble and finished with salted caramel drizzle, these bars are sweet-salty fall dessert perfection.
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Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, Fall
Servings 16 bars
Calories 285 kcal

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch baking pan
  • Parchment paper
  • food processor or pastry cutter
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Heavy-bottomed Saucepan
  • Whisk
  • apple peeler/corer or sharp knife
  • Measuring cups and spoons

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (240g)
  • 0.5 cup powdered sugar (60g)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup cold butter, cubed (225g)
  • 6 large apples (about 3 lbs), peeled, cored, sliced
  • 0.75 cup granulated sugar (150g)
  • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour (25g)
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.5 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 0.25 tsp ground ginger
  • 0.25 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice (30ml)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats (90g)
  • 0.75 cup all-purpose flour (90g)
  • 0.5 cup brown sugar, packed (100g)
  • 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp salt
  • 6 tbsp cold butter, cubed (90g)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
  • 6 tbsp butter (90g)
  • 0.5 cup heavy cream (120ml)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp flaky sea salt, plus extra for topping

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x13 pan with parchment, leaving overhang for lifting later.
  • In a food processor, combine flour, powdered sugar, and salt. Add cold butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some larger bits.
  • Press mixture evenly into pan. Bake 18–20 minutes, until edges are lightly golden. Let cool slightly.
  • Peel, core, and thinly slice apples. Toss in large bowl with sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, lemon juice, and vanilla.
  • Spread apple mixture over baked crust in an even layer.
  • In a bowl, mix oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in cold butter with pastry cutter or fingers until crumbly.
  • Sprinkle crumble over apples. Bake for 35–40 minutes, until golden and apples are tender.
  • While bars cool, heat sugar in saucepan over medium heat, whisking until melted and deep amber.
  • Remove from heat and whisk in butter (careful—it bubbles!). Then slowly whisk in cream until smooth.
  • Stir in vanilla and sea salt. Let cool 10 minutes until thick but pourable.
  • Let bars cool in pan for 2 hours. Don’t rush—warm bars won’t slice cleanly.
  • Drizzle caramel over cooled bars, sprinkle flaky salt, and cut into 16 squares.
  • Serve with extra caramel or ice cream, if desired.

Notes

Make them a day ahead for best flavor and texture. Bars freeze well, and the caramel keeps in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Try mixing apple varieties (Honeycrisp + Granny Smith) for the best sweet-tart balance.

Nutrition

Calories: 285kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 3gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 170mgPotassium: 120mgFiber: 3gSugar: 35gVitamin A: 350IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 1.1mg
Keyword apple bars, apple dessert, easy apple recipe, Fall Baking, salted caramel
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