Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars Recipe
Delight in these Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars, a perfect fall treat combining tender cinnamon-spiced apples with a buttery crumble and rich salted caramel drizzle. These bars offer a deliciously sweet and slightly salty flavor with a crisp, golden topping—a wonderful dessert for cozy autumn days.
- 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)
- 1/2 cup salted caramel sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper to ensure easy removal and cleanup.
- Make Crust and Topping Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir in the all-purpose flour until the mixture becomes crumbly but well combined.
- Press Base Layer: Press about two-thirds of the crumbly mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan, forming the crust.
- Prepare Apple Filling: In a separate bowl, toss the peeled and thinly sliced apples with the ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg to evenly coat the fruit with spice.
- Assemble Bars: Spread the spiced apple mixture evenly over the crust in the pan. Drizzle the salted caramel sauce evenly over the apples. Finally, crumble the remaining one-third of the flour mixture over the top to form the crumbly topping.
- Bake: Place the baking pan in the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when tested with a fork.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, lift the bars out using the parchment paper and cut into squares to serve.
Notes
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith for a nice balance of sweetness and acidity.
- For an extra indulgent touch, serve bars with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
- Ensure apples are sliced uniformly for even cooking.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
Keywords: Salted caramel, apple crumble bars, fall dessert, caramel apple bars, autumn treat
