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Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

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These Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars combine gooey homemade caramel, tender apples, and a buttery oat crumble for the ultimate handheld fall dessert. Perfect for parties, potlucks, or cozy nights in, they’re easy to make and guaranteed to impress.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 medium tart apples (Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and diced (about 2 1/2 cups)
  • 2 medium sweet apples (Honeycrisp or Gala), peeled, cored, and diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (for caramel)
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces (for caramel)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (for caramel)
  • 1/2 teaspoon flaked sea salt, plus more for sprinkling
  • Optional: 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
  • Optional: 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy lifting.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Pour in melted butter and mix until crumbly. Reserve about 1 1/2 cups of this mixture for the topping; press the rest firmly into the prepared pan.
  3. In another bowl, toss diced apples with lemon juice, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon until well coated. Spread evenly over the crumble base.
  4. To make the salted caramel, melt granulated sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat until deep golden and liquid (swirl, don’t stir). Add butter and whisk until smooth. Slowly pour in heavy cream, whisking until glossy and thick. Stir in flaked sea salt.
  5. Drizzle half the caramel over the apples. Sprinkle reserved crumble mixture over the top, pressing gently. Finish with another drizzle of caramel and a pinch of extra sea salt. Add nuts if using.
  6. Bake for 33-38 minutes, until topping is golden and apples are bubbling. If edges brown too quickly, cover loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes.
  7. Let bars cool in the pan for at least 1 hour. Lift out using parchment, then slice into squares. For clean edges, wipe your knife between cuts. Chilling for another hour makes slicing easier.

Notes

For gluten-free, use a 1:1 GF flour blend and certified GF oats. For dairy-free, substitute coconut oil for butter and coconut cream for caramel. Bars are best served slightly warm or at room temperature and can be made ahead—flavors deepen after a day. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days, refrigerate for up to a week, or freeze for up to 2 months. If bars seem soft, chill before slicing. Double the caramel for extra indulgence.

Nutrition

Keywords: salted caramel, apple bars, crumble bars, fall dessert, party dessert, easy apple recipe, oat bars, caramel apple bars

Find it online: https://atomicbite.com/salted-caramel-apple-crumble-bars-recipe-easy-fall-dessert-for-parties/