Caramel Apple Bars
Delight in these irresistible Caramel Apple Bars featuring a buttery crumb crust layered with tender cinnamon-spiced apples and drizzled with luscious salted caramel sauce. Perfect as a cozy fall dessert or anytime treat, these bars combine sweet and tart flavors with a satisfying texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Topping
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Filling
- 3 cups peeled and thinly sliced apples (about 3 medium)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup salted caramel sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. This mixture forms the base for your crumb crust and topping.
- Add Flour and Form Crumb: Stir in the all-purpose flour until the mixture becomes crumbly. Reserve about one-third of this crumb mixture for the topping and press the remaining two-thirds evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Prepare Apple Filling: In a separate bowl, toss the peeled and thinly sliced apples with ground cinnamon and nutmeg to evenly coat and infuse them with warm spice flavors.
- Assemble Bars: Spread the spiced apple mixture over the crust layer in the baking pan. Drizzle the salted caramel sauce over the apples, then crumble the reserved crumb mixture evenly on top as a final layer.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender and bubbling.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting into squares to ensure clean slices and optimal flavor.
Notes
- Choose crisp apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji for the best texture and flavor contrast.
- For a deeper caramel flavor, warm the salted caramel sauce slightly before drizzling.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- To make slicing easier, chill the bars briefly before cutting.
- Optionally sprinkle coarse sea salt lightly over the caramel drizzle for an extra salted caramel kick.
Keywords: caramel apple bars, apple dessert, caramel dessert, fall dessert, apple bars, easy dessert, cinnamon apple bars
Find it online: https://cheframi.com/caramel-apple-bars/
