Dessert

Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Bars Recipe

Byreem everly November 5, 2025November 5, 2025

Introduction

These Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Bars combine tender apples with a buttery, crumbly crust and a luscious caramel twist. Perfectly spiced and easy to make, they’re ideal for sharing at family gatherings or enjoying as a cozy treat.

The image shows a close-up of a square piece of dessert with three visible layers. The bottom layer is a firm, crumbly golden crust. The middle layer consists of soft, lightly browned apple slices that look tender and juicy. On top, there is a crumbly, coarse layer sprinkled with small bits, all drenched in thick, shiny caramel sauce that flows down the sides. The dessert is resting on a white piece of parchment paper placed on a rustic wooden board with a textured surface. A silver fork lies beside the dessert, and the background shows a blurred white marbled surface with warm, soft lighting. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1/2 cup salted butter (room temperature)
1 1/4 cups flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 cups peeled and thinly sliced apples
1/4 cup caramel sauce (from jar)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
6 tablespoons salted butter (room temperature)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Additional caramel sauce (optional, for drizzling)

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8×8-inch square pan with parchment paper.
Step 2: In a mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup butter, 1 1/4 cups flour, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Press this mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 12 minutes.
Step 3: Core, peel, and thinly slice enough apples to measure 4 cups. Set aside.
Step 4: In a small bowl, mix together 1/4 cup caramel sauce, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and 1/4 cup flour. Toss the sliced apples gently in this caramel mixture to coat.
Step 5: Spread the coated apples evenly over the pre-baked crust. Use your hands to gently press them down into a compact layer.
Step 6: In a medium bowl, combine 6 tablespoons butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup oatmeal, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon using a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle this topping evenly over the apples and press down gently.
Step 7: Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown.
Step 8: Allow the bars to cool completely. Drizzle with additional caramel sauce and sprinkle with a pinch of salt if desired. Serve as they are or with a scoop of ice cream for extra indulgence.

Tips & Variations

Use a mix of tart and sweet apples for more complex flavor and texture.
Swap oatmeal for chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts for a crunchy twist.
Let the bars cool fully before cutting to prevent them from falling apart.
For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with a plant-based alternative.

Storage

Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or oven before serving. These bars also freeze well—wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months, thaw overnight in the fridge.

How to Serve

A close-up of a dessert showing a single serving of apple crumble pie with three distinct layers: at the bottom, a golden brown crust with a crumbly texture; in the middle, soft, cooked apple slices with a light yellow color mixed with a cinnamon-spiced crumble topping that is golden and chunky; on top, a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream which is melting slightly, drizzled with caramel sauce that is shiny and amber in color, all placed on a piece of parchment paper on a wooden board, with a white marbled surface in the blurry background; a fork with a bite of the pie and caramel sauce is visible in the bottom right corner, photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen apples for this recipe?

Fresh apples work best for texture and flavor, but if using frozen, thaw completely and drain any excess liquid before mixing with the caramel coating to avoid soggy bars.

Is it necessary to use parchment paper?

Parchment paper helps with easy removal and cleanup, but you can also grease the pan well if you don’t have parchment available.

reem everly