Salted Caramel Apple Bars

Rich brown sugar shortbread base is topped with tart apples and a brown sugar oat crumble topping. Then drenched in homemade salted caramel, these Salted Caramel Apple Bars are irresistible! 

So I know this is kind of a late post. Like its more of a "fall" type dessert and we are in "winter" but in Southern California, we don't really have seasons. So I tend to eat lemon bars in fall and caramel apple bars in winter.

Caramel and apples are two of my all-time favorite flavors. It's a classic and goes back to eating caramel apples as a kid for me.

And then when you add a shortbread crust and an oaty brown sugary crumble, well I kind of die. And while these are bars and you do not need ice cream, sometimes I like things over the top. Because let's be honest, everything is better a la mode.

Let's get to the recipe.

What are the ingredients for Salted Caramel Apple Bars?

To make the crust you'll use 2/3 of the batter but the remaining 1/3 of the batter you'll add a few things to make it a crumble. You'll need:

• All-Purpose Flour/ Plain Flour
• Brown Sugar
• Salt
• Unsalted Butter, cold and diced
• Oats, Old Fashioned or Quick-Cooking
• Ground Cinnamon, Cloves and Allspice

For the apple pie filling, you'll need:

• Granny Smith Apples, sliced into 1/4" pieces (4 Cups Sliced Apples). I use an apple slicer and corer for even slices.
• All-Purpose Flour/ Plain Flour
• Brown Sugar
• Ground Cinnamon, Cloves and Allspice. You can use another selection of spices if you don't like those.

Now, these wouldn't be salted caramel apple bars without salted caramel!

• Homemade Salted Caramel or store-bought. I have an easy recipe with step-by-step photos. You can make this salted caramel recipe up to two weeks in advance.

How do you make Salted Caramel Apple Bars?

Preheat 350F/180C and line an 8"X8" pan with foil, so the foil hangs over the sides of the pan. Grease the pan and set aside.

In a large bowl combine the flour, salt, and sugar.

Using clean hands rub in the cold butter. Rub together with your fingers or a pastry blender.

Once combined press 2/3 of the mixture into prepared pan.

Use your hands to press into an even layer. 

Bake for 12-15 minutes, until set and lightly golden brown. Prepare remaining parts while the crust bakes.

Add the oats, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice to the remaining shortbread mixture. Use your hands to rub everything together. Place the bowl into the fridge while you prepare the filling. 

Peel and slice the apples, I use an apple corer and slicer to make even apple slices.

In a large bowl place sliced apples, flour, brown sugar, and spices together.

Place in the fridge while the crust finishes baking. 

When the crust is baked let it cool for 5 minutes then place sliced apples in an even layer on top of the crust.

Finally, sprinkle the crumble on top. Bake for 30-35 minutes, the top should be golden brown and the apples bubbling. The internal temperature should be 175F/80C.

Let the bars cool in the pan on the counter for 30 minutes then in the fridge for two hours. They need ample time to cool so that the apple filling sets up properly.

When ready to serve drizzle salted caramel all over the top. Don't be shy, everyone loves caramel!!

Store any leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Don't forget to treat yourself for making some of the most delicious bars everrrr!!

★ Please let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a star rating and comment below!

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Salted Caramel Apple Bars

• Author: Elizabeth Waterson I Confessions of a Baking Queen
• Prep Time: 20 Minutes
• Cook Time: 53 Minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 13 minutes
• Yield: 9 Servings 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

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Description

Rich brown sugar shortbread base is topped with tart apples, salted caramel, and a brown sugar oat crumble topping. Then drenched in homemade salted caramel these Salted Caramel Apple Bars are irresistible! 

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Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

Crust

• 188 Grams (1 1/2 Cup) All-Purpose Flour/ Plain Flour
• 150 Grams (3/4 Cup) Brown Sugar
• 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
• 6oz (1 1/2 Sticks) Unsalted Butter, cold and diced

Crumble Topping

• 50 Grams (1/2 Cup) Oats, Old Fashioned or Quick-Cooking
• 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon 
• 1/8 Teaspoon Ground Cloves and Ground Allspice

Filling

• 3 Medium Granny Smith Apples, sliced into 1/4" pieces (4 Cups Sliced Apples)
• 31 Grams (1/4 Cup) All-Purpose Flour/ Plain Flour
• 50 Grams (1/4 Cup) Brown Sugar
• 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
• 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
• 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Allspice

Topping

• Homemade Salted Caramel or store-bought
• Ice Cream 

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Instructions

Crust

1. Preheat 350F/180C and line an 8"X8" pan with foil, so the foil hangs over the sides of the pan. Grease the pan and set aside.
2. In a large bowl combine the flour, salt, and sugar. Using clean hands rub in the cold butter. Rub together with your fingers or a pastry blender. Once combined press 2/3 of the mixture into prepared pan. Use your hands to press into an even layer. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until set and lightly golden brown. Prepare remaining parts while the crust bakes.

Crumble Topping

1. Add the oats, cinnamon, cloves, and all spice to the remaining shortbread mixture. Use your hands to rub everything together. Place the bowl into the fridge while you prepare the filling. 

Apple Filling

1. In a large bowl place sliced apples, flour, brown sugar, and spices together. Place in the fridge while the crust finishes baking. 

Assembly

1. When the crust is baked let it cool for 5 minutes then place sliced apples in an even layer on top of the crust then sprinkle the crumble on top. Bake for 30-35 minutes, the top should be golden brown and the apples bubbling. The internal temperature should be 175F/80C.
2. Let the bars cool in the pan on the counter for 30 minutes then in the fridge for two hours. They need ample time to cool so that the apple filling sets up properly.
3. When ready to serve drizzle salted caramel all over the top. Store any leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

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Keywords: apple pie bars, apple crumble bars, caramel apple bars

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This post was originally published on December 12, 2015. As of December 1, 2019, the photos, text, and recipe have been updated.

I miss blogging. My job keeps me SOO busy. And this time of year is the best time of year, it is also the craziest time of the year. We have so many people calling in for last-minute reservations, and of course, it's 40 people, coming in tomorrow. We also have the Dickens Christmas Carolers coming in, they carol at Disneyland, they are sooo expensive but so amazing!!

My new year's resolution is to get back into the swing of things. And I am trying to start that new year resolution now, with these Salted Caramel Apple Bars!

• Upside Down Salted Carmel Apple Pie
• Red Velvet Salted Caramel Cupcakes
• Salted Caramel Creme Brûlée