Description
These Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars are the ultimate fall dessert, combining the crisp tartness of fresh apples, the rich sweetness of caramel, and a hint of sea salt in a convenient, shareable bar format.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
- 3 cups peeled and thinly sliced apples (about 3 medium)
- 1/2 cup salted caramel sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy lifting.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Pour in the 1 cup melted unsalted butter and mix with a fork or your hands until the mixture is moist and crumbly.
- Press about two-thirds of the crumble mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared 9×13 inch baking pan. This forms the base of your bars.
- In a separate bowl, gently toss the 3 cups peeled and thinly sliced apples with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg until well coated.
- Spread the seasoned apple slices evenly over the prepared crust in the pan. Crumble the remaining one-third of the mixture evenly over the apples to create the topping. Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the crumble topping is golden brown and the apples are fork-tender.
- Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely. This is crucial for the bars to set, taking at least 2-3 hours. Once completely cooled, generously drizzle the ½ cup salted caramel sauce over the top.
- Allow the drizzled bars to sit for another 30 minutes to an hour to allow the caramel to set slightly. Use the parchment paper overhang to carefully lift the entire slab of bars out of the pan. Transfer to a cutting board and cut into desired square or rectangular pieces using a sharp knife.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They can also be gently warmed before serving.
Notes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-55 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg