Description
These Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars combine tender, cinnamon-spiced apples with a buttery oat crumble and rich salted caramel. Perfect for fall, these bars offer a delightful balance of sweet and salty flavors in an easy-to-make dessert bar.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Crumble
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
Apple Filling
- 3 cups peeled and diced apples
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Topping
- 1/2 cup thick caramel sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Prepare Oven and Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
- Make Crumble Dough: In a large bowl, mix together the flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Pour in the melted butter and stir until the mixture forms a crumbly dough texture.
- Form Crust: Press about two thirds of the crumbly dough firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to create the crust layer.
- Prepare Apple Filling: In a separate bowl, toss the peeled and diced apples with lemon juice, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon until the apples are evenly coated and flavorful.
- Assemble Layers: Spread the apple mixture evenly over the crust. Then drizzle the caramel sauce evenly across the apples. Finally, sprinkle the remaining crumbly dough over the top as the crumble topping.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
- Cool and Finish: Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool completely in the pan to set. Once cooled, sprinkle with flaky sea salt for a perfect salted caramel finish.
- Serve: Slice into 16 bars and serve. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Use firm baking apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best texture and balance of tartness.
- Allow bars to cool completely before slicing to ensure clean, neat edges.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days, or refrigerate for longer freshness.
