Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Bars Recipe
Delight in these Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Bars, a perfect blend of tender apples coated in rich salted caramel, nestled between buttery crust and a crunchy oat topping. This easy-to-make dessert balances sweet and salty flavors, ideal for fall gatherings or anytime you crave a comforting bar dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 47 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 2 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings 1x
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1/2 cup salted butter (room temperature)
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Apple Filling
- 4 cups peeled and thinly sliced apples (about 4–5 medium apples)
- 1/4 cup caramel sauce (from jar)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Topping
- 6 tablespoons salted butter (room temperature)
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup oatmeal
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Optional Garnish
- Additional caramel sauce
- Additional salt for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare the pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper, allowing some overhang for easy removal later.
- Make the crust: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, flour, brown sugar, and salt until a crumbly dough forms. Press this mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 12 minutes to set the crust.
- Prepare the apples: Core, peel, and thinly slice 4 to 5 apples until you have 4 cups of slices. Set these aside.
- Mix apple filling: In a small bowl, whisk together the caramel sauce, salt, ground cinnamon, brown sugar, and flour. Pour this mixture over the apple slices and gently toss to coat every piece evenly.
- Assemble the apple layer: Spoon the coated apples evenly over the pre-baked crust in the pan. Use your hands or the back of a spoon to gently press them down to form a nice even layer.
- Prepare the topping: In a medium bowl, combine softened butter, brown sugar, flour, oatmeal, and cinnamon using a fork to mix until crumbly.
- Add the topping and bake: Sprinkle the oatmeal topping evenly over the apple layer and gently press down to help it adhere. Bake the bars for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown.
- Cool and serve: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan. Before serving, drizzle additional caramel sauce over the top and sprinkle with a pinch of salt if desired. Serve plain or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for extra indulgence.
Notes
- Using tart apples like Granny Smith adds a nice balance to the sweet caramel.
- Make sure the butter is at room temperature for easy mixing.
- For cleaner cuts when slicing bars, chill the dessert before cutting.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate to last a week.
- To make the bars gluten-free, substitute the flour with a gluten-free blend and ensure oatmeal is certified gluten-free.
Keywords: Salted caramel apple crisp bars, apple dessert bars, caramel apple bars, fall dessert, oatmeal topping apple bars
Find it online: https://reemcook.com/salted-caramel-apple-crisp-bars-recipe/
