Description
Delight in these Caramel Apple Bars featuring a buttery crumb crust, tender cinnamon-spiced apple filling, and a luscious caramel drizzle. Perfect as a comforting dessert or sweet snack, these bars combine classic autumn flavors into an easy-to-bake treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Topping
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
Apple Filling
- 3 large apples, peeled, cored, and diced (preferably Granny Smith)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Topping
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang for easy removal of the bars later.
- Mix the crumb base: In a large bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Pour in the melted butter and stir until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
- Form the crust: Press half of the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to create an even crust layer. Reserve the remaining crumbs for the topping.
- Prepare apple filling: Toss the diced apples with granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well coated. Spread this mixture evenly over the crust in the pan.
- Add crumb topping: Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture evenly over the apple layer to cover it thoroughly.
- Bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Cool completely: Allow the bars to cool fully in the pan to set properly before handling.
- Drizzle caramel: Once cooled, drizzle the caramel sauce evenly over the top of the bars for a rich finish.
- Serve and enjoy: Use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out and cut into 16 servings. Enjoy the perfect balance of crumbly crust, warm apple filling, and sweet caramel.
Notes
- Use Granny Smith apples for a tart contrast that complements the sweet caramel.
- For a homemade caramel sauce, melt sugar with butter and cream until smooth and thickened.
- To make slicing easier, chill the bars briefly before cutting.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- Optional: add chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to the crumb mixture for added texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
