Description
These Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars bring all the comforting flavors of a classic apple pie in an easy-to-make bar form! With a buttery shortbread crust, spiced apple filling, crunchy streusel topping, and a drizzle of salted caramel, these bars are the perfect autumn treat—or a delicious dessert for any time of year. 🍏🍯
Ingredients
For the Shortbread Crust:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
For the Apple Filling:
- 3 large apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and diced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
For the Streusel Topping:
- ¾ cup old-fashioned oats
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
For the Salted Caramel Drizzle:
- ½ cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Make the Shortbread Crust:
- In a medium bowl, mix melted butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt.
- Stir in flour until a dough forms.
- Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes, until lightly golden.
- Prepare the Apple Filling:
- In a bowl, toss diced apples with flour, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.
- Make the Streusel Topping:
- In another bowl, mix oats, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
- Stir in melted butter until the mixture is crumbly.
- Assemble the Bars:
- Spread the apple filling over the baked shortbread crust.
- Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the apples.
- Bake:
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for 30–35 minutes, until the top is golden and apples are tender.
- Cool & Drizzle:
- Let the bars cool for about 30 minutes. Drizzle with salted caramel sauce and sprinkle with sea salt.
- Serve & Enjoy:
- Cut into squares and enjoy warm or at room temperature!
Notes
- For extra crunch: Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the streusel.
- Make it ahead: These bars can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Serving idea: Pair with vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgent dessert!
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