Caramel Apple Pie Bars

Salted caramel apple pie bars with a sugared crust, cinnamon apples and topped with the perfect crumble and salted caramel. This easy apple dessert is the definition of fall and tastes absolutely delicious.

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Refrigerate: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 55 minutes

Servings:

Ingredients

Crust:

1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 cup all-purpose flour

Apple Filling:

2 large apples (thinly sliced)
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons light brown sugar , packed
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Crumb Topping:

1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1/3 cup light brown sugar , packed
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
5 Tablespoons chilled butter (cubed)

Optional: Salted Caramel Sauce, maldon salt for sprinkling

Instructions

Preheat oven to 300°F degrees. Spray 9×9" pan with non-stick spray or line with parchment paper and set aside.
For the crust, mix the butter, sugar, vanilla and salt in a bowl until combined. Add flour and mix again. Using your hands, press the crust mixture into the pan until it's evenly distributed. Bake for 15 minutes.
While the crust is baking, prepare the apple filling. Put sliced apples in large bowl. Pour in flour, sugar and cinnamon and stir until apples are coated. Set aside.
To make the crumb topping, combine the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and flour in small bowl. Use your hands or a pastry blender to mix in the butter until the mixture is crumbly. Set aside.
Remove crust from the oven and then preheat oven to 350°F. Pour the apple mixture on top of the warm crust and use the back of a spoon to press down the apples to lay across smoothly. Sprinkle the crumb topping on top of apples until covered. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown.
Remove from oven and let rest for 20 minutes at room temperature. Then place in the fridge to set for at least 2 hours. Cut into bars and serve warm or cold. Drizzle the caramel sauce on top if desired just before serving. Enjoy!

Notes

I like using 2 different apples (1 granny smith and 1 honey crisp or pink lady apple). Slice them as thin as you can.
If you want to add a little bit more spice, feel free to add in 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg.
If drizzling caramel on top, you can use this salted caramel recipe or simply melt down store bought caramels with a little bit of cream.

Nutrition

Author: Jamielyn Nye