Salted caramel apple pie bars feature a buttery shortbread crust, cinnamon spiced apples, and a crisp oat streusel, all drizzled with rich salted caramel for an easy fall dessert.

Salted caramel apple pie bars cut into squares for serving on a blue plate.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy.

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars

Caramel apple pie bars are an irresistible dessert that combines the classic flavors of Dutch apple pie or apple crisp with rich caramel. With a buttery crust, spiced apple filling and generous drizzle of salted caramel, it’s easier than an apple pie!

I love making apple desserts in the fall from these bars to easy apple cake and this apple fritters recipe. It’s always nice to have extra apples on hand to make apple pie cheesecake or apple crumble, too! I can’t get enough!

Recipe Ingredients

Apples, cinnamon and brown sugar in a glass bowl.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Apples: I like to use two different apples, such as a Granny Smith and a Honeycrisp or Pink Lady apple for the easy apple filling.
  • Flour: All-purpose flour works in each layer: it makes the crust flakey, helps thicken the filling, and binds together the topping.
  • Sugar: Granulated adds sweetness to the shortbread crust, while brown sugar add a sweetness to the filling and the streusel topping.
  • Cinnamon: The warming spice that works so well with the apples.
  • Oats: Oats add just the right amount of texture to the Dutch apple streusel topping, but you can omit the oats and make a crumble topping if preferred.
  • Butter: The crust would have that creamy flavor and the topping wouldn’t hold together without butter.
  • Vanilla extract: An extra depth of flavor for the crust.
  • Salt: This brings out the flavors of the apple pie bar dessert.
  • Caramel sauce: I love to make a homemade salted caramel sauce, but you can use a store bought caramel sauce to save time.

How to Make Caramel Apple Pie Bars

Unbaked apple pie bars in a foil lined baking dish.
  1. Crust. Mix together the melted butter, sugar, vanilla and salt in a bowl. Add the flour and mix again. Then use your hands to press the mixture into a greased 9×9″ pan and bake at 300°F for 15 minutes.
  2. Apple filling. Make the filling while the crust bakes. Slice the apples, then mix them in a bowl with flour, sugar and cinnamon until coated.
  3. Topping. In a separate bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and flour. Then mix in the cubed butter with your hands (or a pastry blender) until the mixture is crumbly.
  4. Bake. Remove crust from the oven and increase temperature to 350°F. Pour apple filling over warm crust then sprinkle crumb mixture on top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden brown. Chill for 2 hours then drizzle with salted caramel sauce before serving the apple crisp bars!
Drizzling caramel over an apple pie bar before serving the salted caramel apple bars.

Baking Tips

  • What are the best apples for baking? I love to include both sweet and tart varieties such as Braeburn, Golden Delicious or Jonagold.
  • For more spice, mix in 1/4-1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg to the filling.
  • Chill caramel apple crumb bars in the refrigerator for about 2 hours (or even overnight) before enjoying.
  • Prefer a pie crust? Follow directions to blind bake the crust then add filling.
  • No apples on hand? Make salted caramel butter bars instead!
  • Skip turning on the oven: Make this caramel apple dip bar or toffee apple dip!
Stack of two slices of caramel apple pie bars.

Can’t get enough apple desserts? Try these apple turnovers, slab apple pie or cinnamon apple muffins!

More Apple Dessert Recipes

apple pie bars recipe

Caramel Apple Pie Bars

5 from 8 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Refrigerate: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 55 minutes
Servings: 12
These caramel apple pie bars are made with shortbread crust, fresh apples tossed with warm fall spices, an oat streusel and drizzled with salted caramel.
Print Pin This! Rate

Video

Ingredients 

Crust

  • ½ cup unsalted butter , melted
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 2  teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour

Apple filling

  • 2 large apples , cored and thinly sliced
  • 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar , packed
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

Crumb topping

  • ½ cup old-fashioned oats
  • ⅓ cup light brown sugar , packed
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 5 Tablespoons chilled salted butter , cubed

Optional: Salted Caramel Sauce, Maldon salt for sprinkling

Instructions

  • Prep. Preheat the oven to 300°F degrees. Spray 9×9-inch pan with nonstick spray or line with parchment paper.

Crust

  • In a medium bowl, mix 1/2 cup butter, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until combined. Add 1 cup flour and mix again. Using your hands, press the crust mixture into the pan until it's evenly distributed. Bake 15 minutes.

Apple filling

  • In a large bowl, place 2 large apples. Stir in 2 Tablespoons flour, 2 Tablespoons brown sugar, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon until apples are coated. Set aside.

Crumb topping

  • In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup oats, 1/3 cup brown sugar, pinch of cinnamon, and 1/4 cup flour. Using your hands or a pastry blender, mix in 5 Tablespoons butter until the mixture is crumbly. Set aside.
  • Bake bars. Remove crust from the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Pour the apple filling over the warm crust and use the back of a spoon to press down the apples to lay flat. Sprinkle the crumb topping over the apples until covered. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden brown.
  • Cool, chill and enjoy. Remove from oven and let cool 20 minutes. Chill in the fridge to set at least 2 hours. Cut into bars and serve warm or cold. Drizzle the caramel sauce over the top, if desired, just before serving. Enjoy!

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Apples: I like using 2 different apples (1 granny smith and 1 honey crisp or pink lady apple). Slice them as thin as you can. 
Spice: If you want to add a little bit more spice, feel free to add in 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg. 
Caramel: If drizzling caramel on top, you can use this salted caramel sauce recipe or simply melt down store bought caramels with a little bit of cream.
Storage: These bars will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you have extra, you can freeze them individually for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight and add desired toppings. You can eat them warm or cold – both ways taste delicious!

Nutrition

Calories: 243kcal, Carbohydrates: 31g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 33mg, Sodium: 90mg, Potassium: 84mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 16g, Vitamin A: 403IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 19mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Recipe adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction

Recipe FAQs

What else can I use as a topping for apple pie bars?

The caramel sauce has my heart, but you could drizzle a simple powdered sugar icing on top if preferred (a mixture of powdered sugar and milk).

Can I double the caramel apple pie bar recipe?

Yes! Double the ingredients and bake in a 9×13-inch baking dish for about 45 to 55 minutes.

How to store leftovers of this apple pie bars recipe?

These bars will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can eat them warm or cold – either is delicious!

Can I freeze leftovers?

Yes, if you have extra, you can freeze them individually for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight and add desired toppings