Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars Fall Treat Recipe
These Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars are a perfect fall treat featuring a buttery crumbly crust, tender cinnamon-spiced apples, and a luscious drizzle of salted caramel sauce. Baked to golden perfection, these bars combine classic autumn flavors into an easy-to-cut dessert that’s perfect for cozy gatherings or seasonal celebrations.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Topping
- 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
Additional
- 1/2 cup salted caramel sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy removal of the bars.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the melted unsalted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir until smooth and well blended.
- Add flour for crumbly dough: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the butter mixture and stir until the texture becomes crumbly. This mixture will form both the crust and the crumble topping.
- Form the crust: Press about two-thirds of the crumbly dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan, creating a solid base layer.
- Prepare apple filling: In a separate bowl, toss the peeled and thinly sliced apples with ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg, evenly coating the fruit with warm spices.
- Assemble layers: Spread the spiced apple mixture evenly over the pressed crust in the pan. Then drizzle the salted caramel sauce over the apples for a rich, sweet flavor boost.
- Add crumble topping: Crumble the remaining one-third of the dough mixture evenly over the caramel-drizzled apples, creating a crumbly top layer.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender and bubbling.
- Cool and serve: Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan. Once cool, lift the entire slab out using the parchment paper and cut into bars for serving.
Notes
- Use firm, tart apple varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best balance with the caramel and spices.
- Make sure to cool the bars completely before cutting to prevent them from falling apart.
- You can prepare the crumble dough ahead of time and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before assembling and baking.
- For extra texture, consider adding chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to the crumble topping.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
Keywords: Apple crumble bars, salted caramel dessert, fall dessert, apple cinnamon bars, baked apple treat
