Description
Salted Caramel Apple Bars are tender, warmly spiced, and topped with rich salted caramel. A buttery shortbread base, easy crumble, and sweet-tart apples make these bars a cozy fall favorite, perfect for snacks, holidays, or bake sales.
Ingredients
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (divided)
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats (optional, for crumble)
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed (divided)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 tsp fine sea salt + flaky for finish
1/2 tsp baking powder
3 cups apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), peeled and diced
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tbsp cornstarch
1/2–3/4 cup thick salted caramel sauce, plus more to drizzle
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9-inch pan with parchment, overhanging two sides.
2. Make crust/crumble: Mix 2 cups flour, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 3/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp baking powder. Add 3/4 cup melted butter and 1 tsp vanilla; mix into damp sand. Reserve 1 cup for topping. Press remaining firmly into pan. Par-bake 10 minutes.
3. Make apple filling: Toss diced apples with 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1/4 tsp salt, and 2 tbsp cornstarch until coated.
4. Assemble: Spread apples evenly over warm crust. Drizzle 1/2–3/4 cup caramel over apples. Mix oats into reserved crumble if using, then sprinkle on top.
5. Bake 30–38 minutes until topping is golden and caramel bubbles. Cool at least 2 hours in pan on rack.
6. Finish: Drizzle more caramel and sprinkle flaky salt. Lift out by parchment and cut into 16–25 bars.
Notes
Dice apples 1/4–1/2 inch for even cooking.
Use thick, spoonable caramel; thin sauces prevent bars from setting.
Press crust firmly for neat bars.
Cool completely; chill 1 hour for sharp edges.
Adjust sweetness with apple variety.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 160
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Unsaturated Fat: 5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 36
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 3
- Cholesterol: 25