As the fall season approaches, many people start to crave cozy fall desserts. Try this easy no-fuss Apple pie bars recipe made with juicy apples, cinnamon and a streusel oat topping!
Jump to:
Caramel Apple Pie Bars
This easy Apple Pie Bars Recipe is one of the first things you'll make after you go apple picking!. It is super easy to throw together with simple ingredients and a beginner baker's skills. This is a delicious apple dessert that you won't be able to get enough of.
Pro Tip
Use cold butter - for the crust and streusel—this helps create structure and keeps the bars from falling apart. Butter should not be melted.
Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour 156g
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup cold unsalted butter cubed
Apple filling
- 3-4 medium apples peeled, sliced thin (460g or 4 cups)
- 4 teaspoons cornstarch
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Streusel
- ½ cup rolled oats 45g
- ½ cup all-purpose flour 63g
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar 67g
- ¼ cup butter half stick
Caramel
- 1 stick butter 113g
- ½ cup granulated white sugar 100g
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon of sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prep an 8x8 baking pan with non-stick spray. Spray both the bottom and the sides. For easier release, you can even use parchment paper with extra paper hanging over the sides.
Prepare the crust:
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla extract.
- Add in the cold, cubed butter. Use your hands or a pastry cutter to work it into the dry ingredients until the mixture looks crumbly.
- Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the baking pan. I like to use the bottom of a measuring cup to push the crumbs into the bottom of the pan pressing it in to make sure you have a sturdy base for the bars.
- Bake for 15 minutes, or until it's set and the edges are very lightly brown. When done, take out of the oven and let it slightly cool.
Prepare the apple filling:
- In the same large bowl, mix together cornstarch, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
- If your apples aren’t already sliced, peel them and cut into thin slices. I like to halve the slices lengthwise to make them bite-sized—perfect for bars.
- Toss the sliced apples in the mixture until evenly coated.
- Spread the apples evenly over the cooled crust.
Make the streusel:
- In a small bowl (or the same bowl), combine oats, flour, and brown sugar.
- Add the cubed butter and work it in with your hands or a pastry cutter until the mixture forms a crumbly topping.
- Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the apples.
Bake:
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the apples are fork-tender and the topping is lightly browned.
- If the streusel browns too quickly, loosely cover the pan with foil forming a tent over the baking pan.
- Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing. About 30 minutes to an hour.
Caramel:
- In a heavy-bottomed pot, melt butter and sugar over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Once bubbling and golden (about 10 minutes), reduce heat and whisk in cream carefully. Cook 4–5 more minutes until it reaches 225°–230°F.
- Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and salt, then pour into a heatproof bowl. Cool for 15–30 minutes before using.
- Serve with Caramel
- Drizzle with salted caramel sauce just before serving. If caramel sauce is refrigerated, gently reheat the sauce in 15–20 second intervals in the microwave to loosen it up.
Notes
I used an 8x8 square pan with 2-inch sides. If your pan is deeper or wider, you may need to adjust the baking time. You can tell if the bars are done by checking they are fork tender and the top is slightly browned.
Nutrition
How to Make Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars
Get your ingredients ready. You can use a store bought caramel sauce or this homemade caramel sauce which has been used for this recipe.
All-purpose flour is used. However you can also use Cassava if you need a gluten-free option. If you do not have or do not use nutmeg, here is a list of nutmeg substitutions to choose from.
Apples: I like a mix of tart and sweet—Granny Smith for tang and Red Delicious for softness. Any baking apple works!
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt, then add the cold, cubed butter and use your hands or a pastry cutter to work it into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Firmly press the mixture into the bottom of the pan. Using the bottom of a measuring cup helps create a compact, even layer for a sturdy base.
Bake until set and the edges are lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Let the crust cool slightly before proceeding.
In the same bowl you used for the crust, whisk together the cornstarch, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add your thinly sliced, peeled apples (halving them lengthwise for bite-sized pieces is ideal for bars) and toss until they are evenly coated.
Arrange the coated apples in an even layer over the slightly cooled crust.
In a small bowl, combine the oats, flour, and brown sugar. Add the cubed butter and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to work it in until the mixture is crumbly, then sprinkle this streusel evenly over the layer of apples and bake.
Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork. If the streusel browns too quickly, tent the pan loosely with foil for the remainder of the baking time. Finally, allow the bars to cool completely in the pan, which will take about 1 hour, before slicing into squares.
Just before serving, drizzle generously with salted homemade caramel sauce for a perfect sweet and salty finish.
How to Store and Reheat
Let them cool completely. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze individually wrapped bars for longer storage. Reheat in 15-second bursts in the microwave.
More Apple Desserts
Would you like to save this post?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Leave a Reply