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Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Bars Recipe

Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Bars Recipe
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★★★★★

5.1 from 9 reviews

These Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Bars are a perfect fall dessert featuring a buttery shortbread crust, tender caramel-coated apple filling, and a crunchy oatmeal crumb topping. Drizzled with salted caramel, these bars offer a delightful balance of sweet, salty, and cinnamon-spiced flavors, making them an irresistible treat for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Shortbread Crust:

  • 1/2 cup salted butter, room temperature
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Salted Caramel Apple Filling:

  • 4 cups peeled and thinly sliced apples (about 4–5 apples)
  • 1/4 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

For the Topping:

  • 6 tablespoons salted butter, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup oatmeal (old-fashioned or quick)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Additional caramel for drizzling (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8 or 9×9 inch square pan with parchment paper. This helps in easy removal of the bars after baking.
  2. Prepare the Shortbread Crust: In a mixing bowl, combine room-temperature salted butter, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, and salt. Mix until the mixture resembles crumbs. Press this mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan and bake for 12 minutes. Remove and let it cool slightly.
  3. Prepare the Apple Filling: Core, peel, and thinly slice apples to make about 4 cups. In a small bowl, combine caramel sauce, salt, ground cinnamon, brown sugar, and flour. Stir until smooth, then pour over the apples and toss gently to coat. Spread the coated apples evenly over the pre-baked crust, pressing gently to form an even layer.
  4. Make the Oatmeal Crumb Topping: In a medium bowl, combine room-temperature butter, brown sugar, all-purpose flour, oatmeal, and ground cinnamon. Use a fork or your hands to mix until crumbly. Sprinkle this topping evenly over the apple layer and press down gently to adhere.
  5. Bake the Bars: Bake the assembled bars for 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the pan for clean cutting.
  6. Serve: Once completely cooled, cut into 16 squares. Drizzle additional caramel sauce on top and sprinkle a pinch of salt if desired. Serve as is or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for added indulgence.

Notes

  • Using parchment paper makes it easier to lift bars out of the pan.
  • Allow bars to cool fully before cutting to ensure clean edges.
  • Use a mix of sweet and tart apples such as Granny Smith and Honeycrisp for best flavor.
  • You can make your own caramel sauce for an enhanced taste.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
  • To make gluten-free, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
  • For a vegan version, use vegan butter and maple syrup instead of caramel sauce.
  • Add chopped nuts or dried fruits to the topping or filling for variations.
  • Bars freeze well up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Bars, apple crisp bars, caramel apple bars, fall dessert, oatmeal topping, shortbread crust dessert

Find it online: https://kitchenwithkai.com/salted-caramel-apple-crisp-bars-recipe/