Description
Delight in these Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars, a perfect fall treat that combines tender, spiced apples with a buttery crumble and luscious salted caramel drizzle. Baked to a golden brown crust in just 45 minutes, these bars offer a perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors that will keep you coming back for more.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Crumble
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Apple Filling
- 3 cups peeled and thinly sliced apples (about 3 medium)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Topping
- 1/2 cup salted caramel sauce
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing some overhang for easy removal of the bars later.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the melted unsalted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir until well mixed.
- Add Flour for Crumble: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the wet mixture and stir until the mixture becomes crumbly. Reserve about one-third of this crumbly mix for topping.
- Form the Crust: Press about two-thirds of the crumbly mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan, creating a firm and even layer as the crust.
- Prepare Apple Filling: In a separate bowl, toss the peeled and thinly sliced apples with ground cinnamon and nutmeg until the slices are evenly coated with the spices.
- Assemble Filling: Spread the spiced apple mixture evenly over the crust layer in the pan.
- Add Caramel and Crumble Topping: Drizzle the salted caramel sauce evenly over the apples. Then crumble the remaining crumbly mixture over the top, covering the apples and caramel thoroughly.
- Bake: Place the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender and bubbling.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the pan to let the bars set firmly before lifting out using the parchment paper overhang. Cut into bars and serve.
Notes
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best flavor and texture contrast.
- Make sure to cool the bars completely to avoid them falling apart when cutting.
- Salted caramel sauce can be store-bought or homemade depending on your preference.
- Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for extended freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars, Autumn Dessert, Apple Dessert Bars, Salted Caramel Recipe, Fall Treats
