Print

Irresistible Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars
Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

These Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars transform the classic all-American dessert into a convenient, handheld treat without sacrificing any of the flavor magic.

Ingredients

  • 5 medium apples, sliced between 1/8″ and 1/4″ thick
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 3/8 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp allspice
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 and 1/2 cups salted butter, melted
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups old-fashioned whole rolled oats
  • 1 and 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 and 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 6 tbsp salted butter, cubed
  • 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp heavy cream
  • pinch of fine sea salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal later. Prepare the apple filling by tossing the sliced apples with lemon juice in a large bowl, then mix in the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and salt until the apples are evenly coated.
  2. Make the crust mixture by combining the melted butter, flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Stir until everything is thoroughly incorporated and the mixture resembles wet sand with oat flecks throughout.
  3. Press about half of the oat mixture firmly into the bottom of your prepared pan to create an even layer.
  4. Arrange the spiced apple slices evenly over the crust, slightly overlapping them to create a solid layer.
  5. Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the apples, covering them completely.
  6. Bake for 45-50 minutes until the top is golden brown and you can see the apple filling bubbling around the edges.
  7. While the bars cool, make the salted caramel sauce by heating sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once completely melted, immediately add the cubed butter and whisk until incorporated.
  8. Remove from heat and slowly pour in the heavy cream while whisking constantly. Add a pinch of sea salt, then return to low heat and cook for another minute until smooth.
  9. Let the bars cool for at least 2 hours before cutting.

Notes

  • Apple variety matters: For the best Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars, use a mix of firm apples like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp.
  • Perfect caramel timing: Pull it from heat the moment it reaches an amber penny color.
  • Chill for clean cuts: Refrigerate bars for at least 1 hour before slicing.
  • Parchment paper trick: Create a parchment sling with overhanging edges on all four sides.
  • Watch the crust browning: If your oat topping starts getting too dark before the 45-minute mark, loosely tent with foil.

Find it online: https://www.sweethomecook.com/salted-caramel-apple-pie-bars/