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Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars 1

Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

These Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars transform simple ingredients into an extraordinary treat that perfectly captures the essence of fall baking. The combination of tender cinnamon-spiced apples, rich salted caramel, and buttery oat crumble creates layers of flavor that will have everyone asking for your recipe.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Cooling Time 2 hours
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16 bars
Calories 320 kcal

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch baking pan
  • Parchment Paper
  • Pastry Cutter
  • Wire Rack

Ingredients
  

For the Crust and Crumble

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour substitute with 1:1 gluten-free flour blend if needed
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats use certified gluten-free if required
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar light or dark both work beautifully
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup cold unsalted butter 2 sticks, cubed
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans optional, can substitute with walnuts

For the Apple Filling

  • 4 medium-sized apples about 4 cups when sliced - Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp salt

For the Salted Caramel

  • 1 cup caramel sauce store-bought or homemade
  • 1/2 tsp coarse sea salt plus extra for sprinkling

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out later.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to work the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces of butter still visible.
  • Reserve about 1½ cups of this mixture for the topping. Press the remaining mixture firmly into the bottom of your prepared pan to create an even crust.
  • Peel, core, and thinly slice the apples (about ¼-inch thick). In a large bowl, toss the apple slices with lemon juice to prevent browning. Add the flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Gently toss until all apple slices are evenly coated.
  • If using store-bought caramel, warm it slightly so it's pourable (about 20-30 seconds in the microwave). Stir in the sea salt until combined.
  • Arrange the apple filling evenly over the crust. Pour the salted caramel sauce over the apples, drizzling it evenly across the surface.
  • Mix the reserved crumble mixture with chopped pecans (if using). Sprinkle this evenly over the caramel and apples, making sure to cover the filling completely.
  • Bake in your preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the crumble topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling at the edges. If you notice the top browning too quickly, tent with aluminum foil after 30 minutes.
  • Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack (approximately 2 hours). For even cleaner slices, refrigerate for 1 hour after cooling at room temperature.
  • Once cooled, lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Cut into 16 squares and serve.

Notes

- For the best texture, make sure your butter is cold straight from the refrigerator.
- The thickness of your apple slices directly impacts cooking time - keeping them uniformly thin ensures they'll cook evenly.
- These bars actually taste even better the day after baking as the flavors have time to meld.
- Granny Smith apples are ideal for their tartness and firm texture, but avoid softer varieties like Red Delicious or McIntosh.

Nutrition

Calories: 320kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 3gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 130mgFiber: 2gSugar: 32g
Keyword Apple Bars, Caramel Dessert, Fall Baking, Crumble Bars, Apple Crumble
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